Human-powered transport in Slovakia until the second half of the 20th century. Selected questions

Abstract

For centuries, traditional means of transport have been tightly connected to traditional peasant culture. The work of a farmer has always represented not only the means of adaptation to the natural environment and the acquisition of essential articles of food and raw materials, but also the realization of one’s cultural identity. Over the centuries, it has acquired its typical features and has become distinct within several regional forms. This has been reflected in the traditional means of transport related to the daily annual cycle of a farmer’s work, as well as various non-agricultural opportunities. The aim of the study is to summarize the knowledge within the field of traditional transport in Slovakia during the first half of the 20th century, exemplified through some typical transport aids. It aims to point out their manifold utilization and their gradual adaptation to the changing natural, historical, and social conditions.

Keywords

• transport
• human-powered transport
• ethnography of Slovakia
• traditional economy