Empires and exploitation: The case of Byzantium
Exploitation is thus meaningful only in terms of the ways in which the state and society of Byzantium functioned—who exploited whom and how, in economic and political terms—and in respect of the cultural impact of Byzantine civilization on the outside world.
Eikonomachia: The Afterlife of the “Iconoclastic Controversy” in Byzantium
Eikonomachia: The Afterlife of the “Iconoclastic Controversy” in Byzantium By Charles Barber Iconoclasm: The War on Images: 6th Annual Platsis Symposium (2007) Introduction:…
Iconoclasm in Byzantium: myths and realities
Byzantine iconoclasm has been wrapped in an almost impenetrable membrane of attitudes and assumptions, many of them conflicting.
Japan’s relations with the Asian Continent and the Korean Peninsula (Before 950 AD)
Examines the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and China and Korea, which began in the third century AD, and included the sending of envoys.
The Armenian and Byzantine Foundations of the Concept of Jihad
What those ideas were I shall endeavor to make clear by first translating and then commenting on the passage in question. After that I propose to draw the reader’s attention to certain broad but significant similarities between these ideas and the concept of Jihad as initially expressed and enunciated in the pages of the Qur’an.
Church and State in the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, 1198-1375
Church and State in the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, 1198-1375 By Charles A. Frazee Byzantine Studies / Etudes Byzantines, Vol.3:2 (1976) Introduction: Cilcian…
A Fresh Look at Bulgaria under Tsar Peter (927-69)
Scholars have all agreed that following Symeon’s death in 927 Bulgaria underwent a major decline under his son and successor, Peter, who is generally depicted as being weak and incapable.
Articles and Theses posted in March 2009
Here is the list of articles and theses posted to Medievalists.net in March 2009: Historical materials from the medieval fortress Bač The Emergence…
The Tactics and Strategy of Alexius Comnenus at Calavrytae, 1078
I shall thoroughly analyze the battle for which we have two seperate and detailed accounts. One is provided by the Alexiad of Princess Anna Comnena, the daughter of Domestic of the Schools, who led the imperial forces. The other is by the eldest son of the leader of the insurgents, Nicephorus Bryennius, also named Nicephorus Bryennius.
The Apology of Demetrius Cydones: A Fourteenth-Century Autobiographical Source
The Apology of Demetrius Cydones: A Fourteenth-Century Autobiographical Source By Frances Kianka Byzantine Studies / Etudes Byzantines, Vol. 7:1 (1980) Introduction: Thanks to…
Constantine VIII and Michael Psellos: Rhetoric, Reality, and the Decline of Byzantium, AD 1025-28
Constantine VIII and Michael Psellos: Rhetoric, Reality, and the Decline of Byzantium, AD 1025-28 By Gary J. Johnson Byzantine Studies / Etudes Byzanines,…
The Emperor Majorian’s Secret Embassy to the Court of the Vandal Gaiseric
Was Procopius recounting history or simply preserving a legend? Did he compose it originally or was it take from another source and inserted merely as a diversion from his main narrative?
The Conquest of Silves: A Contemporary Narrative
The Conquest of Silves: A Contemporary Narrative By John E. Slaughter The Journal of the American Portuguese Cultural Society, Vol. 2 (1968) Introduction:…
Basic Elements of Islamic Portugal: A Survey
Basic Elements of Islamic Portugal: A Survey By Geoffrey Luiz Gomes The Journal of the American Portuguese Cultural Society, Vol. 5 (1971) Introduction:…
Some Monte Cassino Scribes in the Eleventh Century
Some Monte Cassino Scribes in the Eleventh Century By Francis Newton Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Vol. 7 (1975) Introduction: The revival of the…
The Medieval Marriage Market
In the medieval world, as in most human societies, the terms of marriage normally included conveyances of property between the bride and groom, or their respective families.
The Treaties of the Carolingians
The Treaties of the Carolingians By Francois L. Ganshof Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Proceedings of the Southeastern Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Vol.…
1367: The Founding of the Spanish College at Bologna
1367: The Founding of the Spanish College at Bologna By Berthe M. Marti Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Proceedings of the Southeastern Institute of…
The Uniqueness of Florence’s Renaissance Experience
Examines writing of Florentines about how they viewed their city, its arts and culture and its people.
An English chronicle entry on Robin Hood
An English chronicle entry on Robin Hood By Julian M. Luxford Journal of Medieval History, Vol. 35:1 (2009) Abstract: This short article introduces…
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight By R.E. Kaske Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Proceedings of the Southeastern Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies,…
The Saxon Statement: Code in the Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is thus often largely take at face value, and no serious attemtp seems to have been made to look beyond the work’s representation of the Norman point of view to the possibility that the Saxons who designed and stitched it might have employed covert devices in order to reveal occurences closer to the truth, which the Designer sought to articulare even the some of the facts were suppressed by the Norman conquerors.
Seljuk Architecture and Urbanism in Anatolia
Seljuk Architecture and Urbanism in Anatolia By Ali Uzay Peker European Architectural History Network Newsletter, No. 1 (2008) Introduction: This essay provides a guide to…
The Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia
The Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia By Vlad Bedros European Architectural History Network Newsletter, No.3 (2008) Introduction: When Moldavia joined the Byzantine Commonwealth at the…