Great Moravian Central Places and their Practical Function,Social Significance and Symbolic Meaning
Jı̆rı́ Macháček
This paper focuses on practical function, social significance
and symbolic meaning of early medieval central places from the
East-Central Europe, in particular the area so-called
Great Moravia, which was a important (pre-)state formation on
the eastern periphery Frankish Empire. It is argued that
the vast local agglomerations were not mere military forts, but
very complex centres – genuine civitates or urbs Moravian
Slavs as they are mentioned Royal Annals. Only
rarely can we identify settlements known Carolingian
written sources with specific places. Although majority
eludes localization, assume that place names given in
the written refer to some rich archaeological
sites explored by archaeologists over last 50 years the
Czech Republic. The most ones Mikulcice, Stare
Město and Pohansko near Břeclav.