Monastic Communities and Landscapes in Byzantium : The View from Thrace

The first comprehensive account of Byzantine monastic archaeology and spatial practices, Monastic Communities and Landscapes in Byzantium focuses on Thrace and eastern Macedonia to show the broader impact of monasteries on surrounding communities, one that was not only religious, but also economic and social. Georgios Makris focuses on the significance of monastic spaces and the landscapes they inhabit on the daily life of monastic communities, drawing on archaeological evidence—art and architectural element, pottery, lead seals, and inscriptions—and written sources.

Examining both modest and privileged monasteries between the tenth and fifteenth centuries, Makris takes an expansive and holistic approach to the archaeological study of Byzantine monasteries and considers the monastic compound as both a religious space and one used for social and economic activities. Monastic Communities and Landscapes in Byzantium reveals the rich and dynamic exchanges monasteries maintained with people beyond their walls in cities and the countryside, presenting a more complex view of the Byzantine monastery and the boundaries between sacred and profane spheres.