The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c.500-700 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series)

This book offers an alternative approach to the problem of Slavic ethnicity in south-eastern Europe between c. 500 and c. 700, from the perspective of current anthropological theories. The conceptual emphasis here is on the relation between material culture and ethnicity. The author demonstrates that the history of the Sclavenes and the Antes begins only at around 500 AD. He also points to the significance of the archaeological evidence, which suggests that specific artefacts may have been used as identity markers. This evidence also indicates the role of local leaders in building group boundaries and in leading successful raids across the Danube. Because of these military and political developments, Byzantine authors began employing names such as Sclavines and Antes in order to make sense of the process of group identification that was taking place north of the Danube frontier. Slavic ethnicity is therefore shown to be a Byzantine invention. Contents ... vii List of figures ... ix List of tables ... xiii Acknowledgments ... xiv List of abbreviations ...xv Introduction ... 1 ◦ 1. SLAVIC ETHNICITY AND THE ETHNIE OF THE SLAVS: CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES ... 6 ― The historiography of Slavic ethnicity ... 6 ― What is ethnicity? ... 14 ― What is ethnie? ... 22 ― Ethnicity, material culture and archaeology ... 24 ― Ethnicity and style ... 31 ― Conclusion ... 34 ◦ 2. SOURCES FOR THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY SLAVS (C. 500—700) ... 36 ― Procopius and Jordanes ... 36 ― The Slavs, the theory of climates, and Constantinople ... 43 ― Slavs or Avars? ... 49 ― The saint and the barbarians ... 52 ― The siege of Constantinople, the campaign diary, and the Wends ... 54 ― The saint and the barbarians again ... 61 ― Later sources ... 63 ― Conclusion ... 71 ◦ 3. THE SLAVS IN EARLY MEDIEVAL SOURCES (C. 500—700) ... 74 ― Slavic raiding during Justinian’s reign ... 75 ― The Avars and the Slavs: raiding activity in the 580s ... 90 ― War against the Sclavenes: Maurice’s campaigns of the 590s ... 99 ― The seventh century ... 107 ― Conclusion ... 113 ◦ 4. THE BALKANS AND THE DANUBE LIMES DURING THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES ... 120 ― Urban change in the Balkans ... 121 ― Cities: the archaeological evidence (Figure 1) ... 124 ― Changing cities, rural settlements, and monasteries ... 142 ― The limes and the sixth-century Balkans ... 150 ― Procopius and the limes ... 151 ― The limes and the Balkans: an archaeological survey (Figure 2) ... 155 ― Inflation in the Balkans and the end of the limes: the evidence of coin hoards ... 169 ― Conclusion ... 181 ◦ 5. BARBARIANS ON THE SIXTH-CENTURY DANUBE FRONTIER: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY ... 190 ― The Carpathian Basin ... 190 ― The Avars ... 204 ― The steppe north of the Black Sea ... 208 ― Conclusion ... 223 ◦ 6. ELITES AND GROUP IDENTITY NORTH OF THE DANUBE FRONTIER: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ... 227 ― Dating the change: where were the earliest Slavs? ... 228 ― “Slavic” bow fibulae in Eastern Europe ... 247 ― Grubenhäuser, pots, and clay pans: material culture in action ... 276 ― Conclusion ... 307 ◦ 7. “KINGS” AND “DEMOCRACY”: POWER IN EARLY SLAVIC SOCIETY ... 311 ― “Military democracy”: useful concept or Procrustean bed? ... 312 ― Segmentary society: ideology or actuality? ... 319 ― Great-men, big-men, and chiefs ... 325 ― Conclusion ... 332 ◦ CONCLUSION: THE MAKING OF THE SLAVS ... 335 ― Migration ... 335 ― Ethnicity and ethnie: the view from the inside ... 338 ― The Slavic ethnie: the view from the outside ... 346 ◦ Appendix A: List of settlement features used in the seriation by correspondence analysis ... 351 Appendix B: Handmade and wheelmade pots used for shape analysis ... 366 References ... 372 Index ... 451 This Book Offers A New Approach To The Problem Of Slavic Ethnicity In South Eastern Europe Between C. 500 And C. 700, From The Perspective Of Current Anthropological Theories. The Conceptual Emphasis Here Is On The Relation Between Material Culture And Ethnicity. The Author Demonstrates That The History Of The Sclavenes And The Antes Begins Only At Around A.d. 500. He Also Points To The Significance Of The Archaeological Evidence, Which Suggests That Specific Artifacts May Have Been Used As Identity Markers. This Evidence Also Indicates The Role Of Local Leaders In Building Group Boundaries And In Leading Successful Raids Across The Danube. The Names Of Many Powerful Leaders Appear In Written Sources, Some Being Styled King. Because Of These Military And Political Developments, Byzantine Authors Began Employing Names Such As Sclavenes And Antes In Order To Make Sense Of The Process Of Group Identification That Was Taking Place North Of The Danube Frontier. Slavic Ethnicity Is Therefore Shown To Be A Byzantine Invention.--jacket. 1. Slavic Ethnicity And The Ethnie Of The Slavs: Concepts And Approaches -- 2. Sources For The History Of The Early Slavs (c. 500-700) -- 3. The Slavs In Early Medieval Sources (c. 500-700) -- 4. The Balkans And The Danube Limes During The Sixth And Seventh Centuries -- 5. Barbarians On The Sixty-century Danube Frontier: An Archaeological Survey -- 6. Elites And Group Identity North Of The Danube Frontier: The Archaeological Evidence -- 7. Kings And Democracy: Power In Early Slavic Society -- Conclusion: The Making Of The Slavs. Florin Curta. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 372-450) And Index. This book offers a new approach to the problem of Slavic ethnicity in southeastern Europe between c. 500 and c. 700. The author shows how Byzantine authors "invented" the Slavs, in order to make sense of political and military developments taking place in the Balkans. Making extensive use of archaeology to show that such developments resulted in the rise of powerful leaders, responsible for creating group identities and mobilizing warriors for successful raids across the frontier. The author rejects the idea of Slavic migration, and shows that "the Slavs" were the product of the frontier. This book offers an alternative approach to the problem of Slavic ethnicity in south-eastern Europe between c. 500 and c. 700. The author shows how Byzantine authors 'invented' the Slavs, rejects the idea of Slavic migration, and shows that 'the Slavs' were the product of the frontier.