In geographical terms, Banat is a region in the southern part of the vast Pannonian Plain, bordered by the rivers Mureș, Tisza, Danube, and the Transylvanian Alps. A large portion of Banat lies in Romania, a small part in Hungary, while the Yugoslavian section is located along the lower courses of the mentioned rivers.
Throughout the prehistoric and early history of Vojvodina and Banat, various ancient peoples succeeded one another. Among them, only the Slavs and Hungarians remained, while remnants of earlier peoples are evidenced by archaeological findings, mostly near watercourses.
The South Slavs settled in Banat during the 5th and 6th centuries, while the Hungarians arrived in the 10th century. Serbs from Serbia began arriving in the 15th century. Historians recorded that the Romans in the 3rd century drained the land here, while Slavs and Avars in the 6th and 7th centuries attempted to tame the Zlatica River in Banat.
The arrival of Serbs in Banat at the beginning of the 15th century was a consequence of the fall of the Serbian feudal state and the advance of the Turks from the south. Serbian populations gradually moved north into Hungary, crossing the Danube and bolstering the existing Serbian communities there. During the time of the Serbian despots, who were vassals of the Hungarian court, Serbs began to establish their settlements. They were welcomed in Hungary as they strengthened and guarded the borders against the Turks. At the same time, Serbs also settled other parts of Vojvodina and later the Pomorišje region.
When Banat fell under Turkish rule in 1551, it already had numerous Serbian settlements and was fairly populated. However, during Turkish rule, Banat was almost entirely depopulated, partly due to wars and destruction, but also because of the unchecked flooding of rivers and streams. It is believed that Banat was less marshy before the Turks, as the larger population maintained the land to reduce flooding.
During Turkish rule (1551–1718), major and minor waterways were left unmanaged. Their overflowing created vast marshlands and swamps. People lived in scattered rural settlements, in dugout or wattle houses, primarily engaged in livestock breeding, fishing, and limited agriculture.
The liberation of Banat from the Turks in 1718 marked the beginning of its gradual development, and former Serbian border settlements were repopulated. More intense settlement of Banat occurred after the abolition of the Tisza and Mureș Military Frontier in 1750/51. Serbian border guards, fearing subjugation to Hungarian nobility, began migrating to new regions. Some went to Russia, while others moved to Banat, where they became soldiers, protecting new borders as part of the Banat Militia. Simultaneously, Serbs from the Bačka region also settled in Banat. Settlements like Vranjevo, Kumane, Karlovo, and many others were established during this period.
With the abolition of the Banat Militia in 1773, Serbs in central Banat, with Vienna's consent, formed the Velikokikinda District in 1774, an area independent of civil and military administration, comprising about ten Serbian settlements, lasting until 1873. Vranjevo, Kumane, and Dragutinovo (now Novo Miloševo) were among the included settlements.
It is also important to note that the 18th and 19th centuries saw systematic colonization of Hungarians, Germans, and other ethnic groups across Banat.
Records exist about the colonization of Germans in Banat and the establishment of their settlements. These efforts initially seemed unpromising due to marshlands, reeds filled with mosquitoes, lack of drinking water, and outbreaks of disease, which cast doubt on Banat's potential. Despite these challenges, colonists, along with Serbs, transformed Banat, regulating rivers, draining marshes, building roads, and establishing new settlements. The first water management works also began.
From the above, it is evident that Banat was under Turkish rule from 1551–1718, followed by Austrian control. Between 1849–1860, it was part of the Serbian Vojvodina as an Austrian crown land. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, it came under Hungarian rule until 1918. During this period, Serbs in Banat endured two more Turkish invasions and suffered in two Austrian-Turkish wars.
From 1918, Vojvodina, including Banat, became part of Yugoslavia until World War II. During the occupation (1941–1945), Banat was under German administration within occupied Serbia but had a special status.
After World War II, Banat remained part of Vojvodina and Serbia, or Yugoslavia, up to the present day.
In the latter half of the 18th century, efforts to tame the Tisza River and its tributaries began, followed by regulation works in the mid-19th century. These endeavors were labor-intensive, involving manual labor with carts and spades, and were often underfunded. By the late 19th century, drainage canals were dug by "kubikashi" workers, and steam-powered pumps were built to redirect water into rivers, alongside other hydraulic engineering structures.
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