SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROVISIONS COMPRISED BY THE REFORM PROGRAMMES ELABORATED IN MOLDOVA AND WALLACHIA AFTER THE RESTORATION OF THE LAND DOMINIONS

THE WESTERN INFLUENCE BEGAN TO MAKE ITS PRESENCE FELT IN THE ROMANIAN AREA AT THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY. IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE FOLLOWING CENTURY THIS INFLUENCE BECAME MORE AND MORE PRONOUNCED. THIS PHENOMENON IS DUE PRIMARILY TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH WESTERN CIVILISATION, ACHIEVED THROUGH YOUNG REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ROMANIAN ARISTOCRACY WHO CHOSE TO COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES IN PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY CENTRES SUCH AS PARIS, BERLIN AND ROME. THERE, THEY CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE MOST 'FASHIONABLE' POLITICAL IDEAS, THE LATEST ECONOMIC PRACTICES AND THE ECHO OF THE SOCIAL DEMANDS MADE BY THOSE COMMUNITIES. THEY ALL CAME BACK DRIVEN BY THE IDEAL OF PUTTING ALL THESE IDEAS INTO PRACTICE. THE GREATEST IMPACT ON ROMANIAN SOCIETY WAS CLEARLY MADE BY FRENCH CIVILISATION, DUE PARTLY TO THE OVERWHELMING PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO STUDY IN PARIS, AND PARTLY TO THE DISCOVERY OF OUR 'KINSHIP' WITH FRANCE.