Byzantium in the Czech Lands (4th–16th Centuries) : Historical and Art Historical Perspectives

This book offers the first comprehensive study of Byzantine influence on the art and iconography of East Central Europe. Petr Balcárek focuses on the Byzantine cultural and religious legacy in the Czech lands, thereby bringing to light rarely seen images and presenting fresh hypotheses based on newly-explored theological interpretations and historical evidence. Including a discussion of the Czech and Slovak historiography on Byzantine studies, the work analyses significant artistic and iconographical artefacts in light of the intricate historical and political relationships that shaped Byzantine presence in these territories, comparing them with similar objects from other areas of Byzantine influence in order to draw wide-reaching conclusions. Contents Preface Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Maps Abbreviations Introduction 1 General Considerations 2 Byzantine Studies in the Czech Lands as a Potential Source for Interpretation: A Preliminary Outline 3 Byzantine Studies in Czechoslovakia After WWII 4 Byzantinoslavica 5 Czechoslovak Archaeologists and Art Historians Part 1 From 324 AD Up to the Eleventh Century Chapter 1 The Period from 324 AD to Approximately 500 AD 1 Introduction and Chronology 2 The Historical Background and Main Characteristics of the Period 3 Evidence of Archaeological Artefacts Chapter 2 The Period Between 500–670 1 Historical Background 2 Material Evidence 3 Church Organization and Jurisdiction Chapter 3 The Period from 670 AD to Approximately 800 AD 1 Historical Background 2 Artefacts 3 Conclusion Chapter 4 The Great Moravian Period, Ninth Century 1 Characteristics and Historical Background 2 Artefacts 3 Conclusion Chapter 5 The Post-Great Moravian Period – from the Year 900 to Approximately 1050 AD 1 Primary Characteristics of the Period 2 The Ecclesiastical Situation and Cultural Centres 3 Artefacts 4 Hungary as a Bridge Between East-Central Europe and Byzantium Chapter 6 Conclusion and Summary of the First Part Part 2 Second Half of the 11th Century up to the 16th Century Chapter 7 Introduction: Periodisation 1 From Mid-Eleventh Century to ca. 1204 Chapter 8 From Mid-Eleventh Century to ca. 1204 1 Historical and Artistic Background 2 Material Evidence 3 Conclusion – the Period Between 1054–1204 Chapter 9 Thirteenth Century 1 Historical Background 2 Material Evidence 3 Conclusion Chapter 10 The Fourteenth Century 1 Historical Background 2 Material Evidence 3 Conclusion Chapter 11 Epilogue: The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 1 Historical Background 2 Material Evidence Conclusion Bibliography Index Ce livre propose la première étude complète de l'influence byzantine sur l'art et l'iconographie de l'Europe centrale et orientale. Petr Balcárek se concentre sur l'héritage culturel et religieux byzantin dans les terres tchèques, mettant ainsi en lumière des images rarement vues et présentant de nouvelles hypothèses basées sur des interprétations théologiques et des preuves historiques récemment explorées. Y compris une discussion de l'historiographie tchèque et slovaque sur les études byzantines, le travail analyse des artefacts artistiques et iconographiques importants à la lumière des relations historiques et politiques complexes qui ont façonné la présence byzantine dans ces territoires, en les comparant avec des objets similaires d'autres zones d'influence byzantine dans afin de tirer des conclusions de grande portée "This book offers the first comprehensive study of Byzantine influence on the art and iconography of East Central Europe. Petr Balcárek focuses on the Byzantine cultural and religious legacy in the Czech lands, thereby bringing to light rarely seen images and presenting fresh hypotheses based on newly-explored theological interpretations and historical evidence. Including a discussion of the Czech and Slovak historiography on Byzantine studies, the work analyses significant artistic and iconographical artefacts in light of the intricate historical and political relationships that shaped Byzantine presence in these territories, comparing them with similar objects from other areas of Byzantine influence in order to draw wide-reaching conclusions"-- Provided by publisher