A Rural Economy in Transition: Asia Minor from Late Antiquity into the Early Middle Ages
By Adam Izdebski
Warszawa, 2013 (Journal of Juristic Papyrology, Suppl. xviii)
ISBN 978-83-9259198-6
A Rural Economy in Transition deals with one of the most important periods in the history of Europe and the Middle East – the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. In his monograph, Adam Izdebski focuses on the economic history of Anatolia between the fifth and ninth centuries AD, a period which has traditionally posed great challenges to the historian. Because there are very few written sources from which a detailed economic and rural history of the period might be constructed, A. Izdebski has made extensive use of archaeological material in his study; however, he has also been able to integrate a vast amount of new scientific evidence into the traditional debates. This book offers the first major analysis of all the available palynological data — coming from the investigation of pollen samples taken from lakes and marshes over the last fifty years — pertaining to the Anatolian region, with comparative data drawn from the entire Mediterranean and Middle East. In addition, it includes a discussion of recent research on the climatic history of both Anatolia in particular, and the Eastern Mediterranean in general. For historians in any field who might wish to engage with the fascinating and under-utilised discipline of palynology, this book provides an easily accessible introduction to the uses of palynological evidence in the construction of historical interpretation. Furthermore, A. Izdebski has succeeded in presenting the history of late antique and Byzantine Anatolia with a new, environmental perspective – and in doing so, he has introduced Byzantine studies into the burgeoning field of environmental and climatic history.
Contents
Chapter One: STRUCTURE AND DENSITY OF RURAL SETTLEMENT
The departing point: Late Antiquity – Unveiling the early medieval aftermath of the late antique prosperity – Preliminary conclusions
Chapter Two: FORTIFICATIONS WITHIN THE RURAL WORLD
Introduction – A study of the rural fortifications in Asia Minor – (Paphlagonia [the Gangra survey] and Pontus – The region of Cotycaeum [Kütahya] – Other regions of Asia Minor – . The written evidence – Conclusions
Chapter Three: ECCLESIASTICAL MONUMENTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Chapter Four: THE INCONCLUSIVE CONCLUSIONS: EARLY MIDDLE AGES – A ‘POSTHUMOUS’ LATE ANTIQUITY?
Part Two
Chapter One: PALYNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN HISTORICAL INTERPRETATIONS
Data gathering – Data interpretation – Interpretation of particular plant taxa – Climatic and hydrological considerations
Chapter Two: REGIONAL ANALYSES
Western fringes of Anatolian Plain – (Lake Beysehir I – Lake Hoyran – Conclusion – South-western Asia Minor – The Sagalassos area – Lake Pinarbasi – Lake Gölhisar – Lake Sögüt – Lake Ova – Lake Köycegiz – Lakes Avlan and Elmali – Conclusions – The North (I): Bithynia – The Marmara coast – Lake Kücük Akgöl – Lake Abant – Lake Melen – Conclusions – The North (II): Paphlagonia Lake Ladik – Lakes Demiryurt and Kaz – Lake Cöl – Conclusions – Cappadocia – Lake Nar – Lake Tuzla – Conclusions
Chapter Three: THE VEGETATION HISTORY OF ANATOLIA IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Conclusion: TOWARDS A SYNTHESIS: FROM HOMOGENEITY TO DIVERSITY
To learn more about this book, or purchase a copy, please visit the Taubenschlag Foundation website
By Adam Izdebski
Warszawa, 2013 (Journal of Juristic Papyrology, Suppl. xviii)
ISBN 978-83-9259198-6
A Rural Economy in Transition deals with one of the most important periods in the history of Europe and the Middle East – the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. In his monograph, Adam Izdebski focuses on the economic history of Anatolia between the fifth and ninth centuries AD, a period which has traditionally posed great challenges to the historian. Because there are very few written sources from which a detailed economic and rural history of the period might be constructed, A. Izdebski has made extensive use of archaeological material in his study; however, he has also been able to integrate a vast amount of new scientific evidence into the traditional debates. This book offers the first major analysis of all the available palynological data — coming from the investigation of pollen samples taken from lakes and marshes over the last fifty years — pertaining to the Anatolian region, with comparative data drawn from the entire Mediterranean and Middle East. In addition, it includes a discussion of recent research on the climatic history of both Anatolia in particular, and the Eastern Mediterranean in general. For historians in any field who might wish to engage with the fascinating and under-utilised discipline of palynology, this book provides an easily accessible introduction to the uses of palynological evidence in the construction of historical interpretation. Furthermore, A. Izdebski has succeeded in presenting the history of late antique and Byzantine Anatolia with a new, environmental perspective – and in doing so, he has introduced Byzantine studies into the burgeoning field of environmental and climatic history.
Contents
Chapter One: STRUCTURE AND DENSITY OF RURAL SETTLEMENT
The departing point: Late Antiquity – Unveiling the early medieval aftermath of the late antique prosperity – Preliminary conclusions
Chapter Two: FORTIFICATIONS WITHIN THE RURAL WORLD
Introduction – A study of the rural fortifications in Asia Minor – (Paphlagonia [the Gangra survey] and Pontus – The region of Cotycaeum [Kütahya] – Other regions of Asia Minor – . The written evidence – Conclusions
Chapter Three: ECCLESIASTICAL MONUMENTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Chapter Four: THE INCONCLUSIVE CONCLUSIONS: EARLY MIDDLE AGES – A ‘POSTHUMOUS’ LATE ANTIQUITY?
Part Two
Chapter One: PALYNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN HISTORICAL INTERPRETATIONS
Data gathering – Data interpretation – Interpretation of particular plant taxa – Climatic and hydrological considerations
Chapter Two: REGIONAL ANALYSES
Western fringes of Anatolian Plain – (Lake Beysehir I – Lake Hoyran – Conclusion – South-western Asia Minor – The Sagalassos area – Lake Pinarbasi – Lake Gölhisar – Lake Sögüt – Lake Ova – Lake Köycegiz – Lakes Avlan and Elmali – Conclusions – The North (I): Bithynia – The Marmara coast – Lake Kücük Akgöl – Lake Abant – Lake Melen – Conclusions – The North (II): Paphlagonia Lake Ladik – Lakes Demiryurt and Kaz – Lake Cöl – Conclusions – Cappadocia – Lake Nar – Lake Tuzla – Conclusions
Chapter Three: THE VEGETATION HISTORY OF ANATOLIA IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Conclusion: TOWARDS A SYNTHESIS: FROM HOMOGENEITY TO DIVERSITY
To learn more about this book, or purchase a copy, please visit the Taubenschlag Foundation website
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