Paleology and Old History of Footwear in Romania

The degree of civilization for a people emerges out of the everyday life of its individuals, their way of dressing, dwelling, feeding, learning, living within a community, etc. “Everyday life” refers to the in actu civilization, that is, those civilization manifestations found in the everyday life of a human community, and the manner in which potential civilization facts (techniques and objects, all kinds of knowledge, social and moral rules) are converted into actual civilization facts. In this context, researching and outlining a history of footwear may be an act of knowledge in itself, but it can also be an addition to the history of the Romanian civilization. Romanian history sources, in terms of both arts and literature, and historiography and archeological sites, are poor and inadequate, particularly those regarding the old history of footwear. The paper presents a short history of footwear, from the late Paleolithic to the early Middle Age, on the Romanian territory of today. Both the material vestiges certifying leather processing and shoe making on the Romanian territory, and the Romanian linguistic treasure have equally revealed the millenary continuity of some trades, alongside the continuity of the Romanian people in the hearth of its Geto-Dacian ancestors.