The Medieval Mediterranean
Dominique Valérian
After the breakdown of Roman Empire, Mediterranean lost its political unity and, in spite some thalassocracies, no power was capable unifying whole Mediterranean. The Muslim conquests imposed rule Islam on southern and eastern seas, whereas Byzantine fleet could resist north-east. From eleventh century, however, Latin expansion progressively Christian domination Mediterranean, a economic level. development trade made sea hub international networks, connecting Europe, Africa Asia. This turn possible by construction norms regulating both conflicts exchanges, building bases modern