<i>Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250</i> (review)
Jonathan Shepard
Reviewed by: Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250 Jonathan Shepard 500–1250. By Florin Curta. [Cambridge Medieval Textbooks.] (New York: Cambridge University Press. 2006. Pp. xxviii, 496. $90.00 hardback; $34.99 paperback.) Curta's survey of vast area he terms appears Textbooks series, which is designed to introduce students important topics medieval history. But "textbook" something a misnomer this instance. Curta offers magisterial study groupings and microsocieties that merged or, more often, were forcibly into larger political units region between Adriatic, Aegean, Black Sea,Transylvania, and, northeast, steppes reaching from Lower Danube Dnieper wooded zone skirts them. Whether "Southeastern Europe" particularly appropriate for denoting assortment open question. What emerges dearth fixed territorial, tribal, or linguistic coordinates under study. In light this, conveys rather too insistent notion territorial space, label hardly fits Dniester basins better than "Balkans" does. The latter term arbitrary, loose, carries varied connotations; but so far as these evoke both fragmentation associations with—though not necessarily incorporation within—superpowers like Byzantium, it has its merits. Some—but all—of crystallized durable [End Page 326] polities, such those Bulgarians, Hungarians, Croats, Serbs. mostly volatile, depending heavily on cohesion ruling families masterful individuals, even strongest them, Bulgaria, could withstand resurgence Byzantine power at end tenth century, was absorbed within Basil II's empire. makes impact Byzantium other populations southeastern principal theme: two chapters are boldly titled "The first century (1000–1100)" second (1100–1200)," line with his emphasis empire's wealth, power, diplomatic reach time. book's earlier reprise monograph Making Slavs, including thesis Slavs only jelled kind ethnic entity later sixth essentially response obstacles Justinian's massive fortifications program had placed way lucrative pillaging expeditions. great empire impinging Balkans Carolingian Franks, too, given due weight. uses archaeological expertise effect, presentation social economic life address questions where "Moravia" located. On issue presents what is, my view, strong case retaining traditional placing Moravia eastern approaches Frankish empire, shunting south location present-day Serbia. It measure presentational skills integrates knotty historiographical problems detailed treatment complex data sweep general survey. Well-known episodes adoption Christianity by Khan Boris Bulgars covered, Boris' oscillations alignment Latin churches recounted clearly. Of particular value collation epigraphy highlight roles nobles others below level "ruler" adopting furthering Christian ritual observance. Good use also made recondite literary sources demonstrate effervescence piety, outside cloister wall, eleventh-century western Balkans. Yet period,Curta notes, there very little evidence clashes orthodox church organizations, functioned side Dalmatia southern Hungary. This will serve work reference (with remarkably full up-to-date bibliographic citations), comes perhaps close feasible synthesis contrasting embryonic sociopolitical organisms. Overall, thoroughly impressive contribution to...
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