Book contents
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Dedication
- Preface
- Preface to the Paperback Edition
- General Introduction
- Part I The Earlier Empire c. 500–c. 700
- Part II The Middle Empire c. 700–1204
- Chapter 5 State of Emergency (700–850)
- Chapter 6 After Iconoclasm (850–886)
- Chapter 7 Religious Missions
- Chapter 8 Armenian Neighbours (600–1045)
- Chapter 9 Confronting Islam: Emperors Versus Caliphs (641–c.850)
- Chapter 10 Western Approaches (700–900)
- Chapter 11 Byzantine Italy (680–876)
- Chapter 12 The Middle Byzantine Economy (600–1204)
- Chapter 13 Equilibrium to Expansion (886–1025)
- Chapter 14 Western Approaches (900–1025)
- Chapter 15 Byzantium and Southern Italy (876–1000)
- Chapter 16 Belle Époque or crisis? (1025–1118)
- Chapter 17 The Empire of the Komnenoi (1118–1204)
- Chapter 18 Balkan Borderlands (1018–1204)
- Chapter 19 Raiders and Neighbours: The Turks (1040–1304)
- Part III The Byzantine Lands in the Later Middle Ages 1204–1492
- Glossary (Including Some Proper Names)
- Genealogical Tables and Lists of Rulers
- Alternative Place Names
- Bibliography
- Book part
- Picture Acknowledgements
- Index
Chapter 18 - Balkan Borderlands (1018–1204)
from Part II - The Middle Empire c. 700–1204
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 November 2019
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Dedication
- Preface
- Preface to the Paperback Edition
- General Introduction
- Part I The Earlier Empire c. 500–c. 700
- Part II The Middle Empire c. 700–1204
- Chapter 5 State of Emergency (700–850)
- Chapter 6 After Iconoclasm (850–886)
- Chapter 7 Religious Missions
- Chapter 8 Armenian Neighbours (600–1045)
- Chapter 9 Confronting Islam: Emperors Versus Caliphs (641–c.850)
- Chapter 10 Western Approaches (700–900)
- Chapter 11 Byzantine Italy (680–876)
- Chapter 12 The Middle Byzantine Economy (600–1204)
- Chapter 13 Equilibrium to Expansion (886–1025)
- Chapter 14 Western Approaches (900–1025)
- Chapter 15 Byzantium and Southern Italy (876–1000)
- Chapter 16 Belle Époque or crisis? (1025–1118)
- Chapter 17 The Empire of the Komnenoi (1118–1204)
- Chapter 18 Balkan Borderlands (1018–1204)
- Chapter 19 Raiders and Neighbours: The Turks (1040–1304)
- Part III The Byzantine Lands in the Later Middle Ages 1204–1492
- Glossary (Including Some Proper Names)
- Genealogical Tables and Lists of Rulers
- Alternative Place Names
- Bibliography
- Book part
- Picture Acknowledgements
- Index
Summary
Byzantine emperors desired stability and security in the peripheral regions of the empire so as to continue controlling and exploiting the productive lands which provisioned the principal cities, most importantly Constantinople; these also yielded tax revenues to support the apparatus of government. In the Balkans the vital regions were the rich lands of Thrace and the hinterland of Constantinople in the east, and Thessaly and the lands around Thessaloniki in the west. Security required direct supervision of major communication routes, by land and water, and of strategic cities across the peninsula, but only a stabilising influence in the mountainous interior, the north-eastern plains and the north-western littoral. Control of the Black Sea ports between Constantinople and the lower Danube, notably Anchialos, Mesembria and Varna, was considered essential, as was command of the major mountain passes through the Haemus mountains. Minor paths remained in the hands of locals, largely Vlachs, whose allegiance was assiduously cultivated.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c.500–1492 , pp. 664 - 691Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019