The Economic History of Byzantium From
.pdfDUMBARTON OAKS STUDIES
XXXIX
THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM
Volume 1
The book is being published in two editions:
a Greek version by MIET in Athens and this English version by Dumbarton Oaks.
THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM From the Seventh through the Fifteenth Century
Volume 1
Angeliki E. Laiou, Editor-in-Chief
Scholarly Committee
Charalambos Bouras
Ce´cile Morrisson
Nicolas Oikonomides†
Constantine Pitsakis
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
Washington, D.C.
2002 Dumbarton Oaks Trustees for Harvard University Washington, D.C.
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The economic history of Byzantium: from the seventh through the fifteenth century / Angeliki E. Laiou, editor-in-chief; scholarly committee, Charalambos Bouras . . . [et al.].
p. cm.—Dumbarton Oaks studies ; 39) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-88402-288-9 (pbk.)
1. Byzantine Empire—Economic conditions. I. Laiou, Angeliki E. II. Bouras, Charalampos. III. Series.
HC294.E25 2001 330.9495 —dc21
2001032597
Contents
Volume 1
Preface |
ix |
Introduction |
|
Writing the Economic History of Byzantium |
3 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Political History: An Outline |
9 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Part One: The Natural Environment, Resources, Communications, |
|
and Production Techniques |
|
Physical Factors in the Evolution of the Landscape and Land Use |
31 |
Bernard Geyer |
|
The Human Resources |
46 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Land and Sea Communications, Fourth–Fifteenth Centuries |
55 |
Anna Avramea |
|
Ships |
89 |
George Makris |
|
The Means of Agricultural Production: Muscle and Tools |
99 |
Anthony Bryer |
|
Mining |
112 |
Klaus-Peter Matschke |
|
Metallurgy and Metalworking Techniques |
118 |
Maria K. Papathanassiou |
|
Marble and Stoneworking in Byzantium, Seventh–Fifteenth Centuries |
125 |
Jean-Pierre Sodini |
|
Essential Processes, Looms, and Technical Aspects of the Production of |
|
Silk Textiles |
143 |
Anna Muthesius |
|
vi |
Contents |
|
Part Two: The Sixth Century, Background |
|
|
The Sixth-Century Economy |
165 |
|
|
Ce´cile Morrisson and Jean-Pierre Sodini |
|
Case Study |
|
|
Anemourion |
214 |
|
|
James Russell |
|
Part Three: Structures, Organization, and Development of Production |
|
|
Agriculture |
|
|
The Rural Economy, Seventh–Twelfth Centuries |
225 |
|
|
Jacques Lefort |
|
The Agrarian Economy, Thirteenth–Fifteenth Centuries |
305 |
|
|
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Byzantium and the Mediterranean Agrarian Civilization |
370 |
|
|
Pierre Toubert |
|
|
Volume 2 |
|
Urban Economy |
|
|
The Urban Economy, Seventh–Twelfth Centuries |
385 |
|
|
Gilbert Dagron |
|
The Late Byzantine Urban Economy, Thirteenth–Fifteenth Centuries |
454 |
|
|
Klaus-Peter Matschke |
|
Aspects of the Byzantine City, Eighth–Fifteenth Centuries |
487 |
|
|
Charalambos Bouras |
|
Medieval Constantinople: Built Environment and Urban Development |
519 |
|
|
Paul Magdalino |
|
Master Craftsmen, Craftsmen, and Building Activities in Byzantium |
528 |
|
|
Charalambos Bouras |
|
The Industries of Art |
544 |
|
|
Anthony Cutler |
|
Writing Materials, Documents, and Books |
577 |
|
|
Nicolas Oikonomides† |
|
Pottery and Glass in Byzantium |
581 |
|
|
Ve´ronique Franc¸ois and Jean-Michel Spieser |
|
Byzantine Weights |
598 |
|
|
Christopher Entwistle |
|
Contents |
vii |
Case Studies |
|
Sardis |
602 |
Clive Foss and Jane Ayer Scott |
|
The Urban Economy of Pergamon |
610 |
Klaus Rheidt |
|
Thebes |
617 |
Aspasia Louvi-Kizi |
|
Medieval Athens |
625 |
Maria Kazanaki-Lappa |
|
Corinth |
633 |
G. D. R. Sanders |
|
Numismatic Circulation in Corinth from 976 to 1204 |
641 |
Vasso Penna |
|
Kherson and Its Region |
645 |
Anne Bortoli and Michel Kazanski |
|
Preslav |
652 |
Ivan Jordanov |
|
Tu˘rnovo, Sixth–Fourteenth Centuries |
657 |
Konstantin Dochev |
|
Part Four: Exchange, Trade, and Markets |
|
Economic and Non-Economic Exchange |
665 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Exchange and Trade, Seventh–Twelfth Centuries |
681 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
Commerce, Trade, Markets, and Money, Thirteenth–Fifteenth Centuries |
755 |
Klaus-Peter Matschke |
|
The Levant Trade in the Middle Ages |
791 |
John Day |
|
Prices and Wages in the Byzantine World |
799 |
Ce´cile Morrisson and Jean-Claude Cheynet |
|
Special Topics |
|
Monemvasia, Seventh–Fifteenth Centuries |
863 |
Haris Kalligas |
|
Byzantine Shipwrecks |
882 |
Frederick van Doorninck, Jr. |
|
viii Contents
Volume 3
Part Five: Economic Institutions and the State |
|
Byzantine Money: Its Production and Circulation |
891 |
Ce´cile Morrisson |
|
A Note on Monetary Mechanisms, East and West |
945 |
John Day |
|
The Role of the Byzantine State in the Economy |
951 |
Nicolas Oikonomides† |
|
Legal Aspects of the Economy |
|
Legal Institutions and Practice in Matters of Ecclesiastical Property |
1037 |
Eleutheria Papagianni |
|
Protimesis (Preemption) in Byzantium |
1048 |
Eleutheria Papagianni |
|
Byzantine Legislation on Economic Activity Relative to Social Class |
1060 |
Eleutheria Papagianni |
|
The Byzantine Law of Interest |
1071 |
Demetrios Gofas |
|
Legal Aspects of the Financing of Trade |
1081 |
Olga Maridaki-Karatza |
|
Part Six: General Traits of the Byzantine Economy |
|
Economic Thought and Ideology |
1099 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
The Byzantine Economy: An Overview |
1121 |
Angeliki E. Laiou |
|
List of Abbreviations |
1141 |
Index |
1147 |
Preface
The idea of producing a book on the economic history of the Byzantine Empire was first floated some years ago, when the late and much regretted Nicholas Svoronos, who would have played a major role, was still alive. A number of unfavorable circumstances did not allow us to proceed further. Eventually, that first idea was revisited, was invested with substance, and became reality; the volumes at hand are the result. The successful completion of this large and difficult project is owed to the enlightened interest, indeed commitment, of certain individuals and institutions whose contribution has been decisive. The institutional sponsors are the Bank of Greece and the Union of Greek Banks, while the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET) has been responsible for the practical aspects of the coordination and for the publication of the Greek edition.
Efthymios Christodoulou, who was governor of the Bank of Greece when support for the project was being sought, had always shown great interest in the history of the Byzantine economy, for he realizes the importance of Byzantium in the history of humankind, and therefore the need for a global examination of the economy that formed the underpinnings of the state and culture of Byzantium. His enthusiasm was expressed through his continued encouragement and moral support, and it took material form in the considerable contribution of the Bank of Greece in financing the project.
The late Manolis Kasdaglis, director for many years of the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece, was one of the first individuals to conceive the idea of such a project and gave his unwavering support to its realization. It is a matter of deep regret that his untimely death did not allow him to see the publication of this book.
The late Michael Vranopoulos, when he was chairman of the Union of Greek Banks, also expressed interest in the project; we owe the participation of the Union in the sponsorship of the project to him and to the Governing Board of the Union. Successive governors and directors of the Bank of Greece and the Union of Greek Banks respectively showed unflagging interest and facilitated our work in a number of ways. I should like to thank Loukas Papademos, currently governor of the Bank of Greece, and Georgios Mirkos, former governor of the National Bank of Greece. Special thanks are owed to Theodoros Karatzas, currently governor of the National Bank of Greece and chairman of the Union of Greek Banks, for his unwavering support and for making decisive contributions which ensured that the project would reach completion. I am particularly grateful to Yiannis Manos, former general secretary of the Union of