Latin Dominions in the Greek Territories (13th-17th centuries): Economy and Society

After the Fourth Crusade and the subsequent partition of Byzantine territories in the Greek region, Frankish states as well as Venetian and Genoese colonies were established. The longevity of many of these states, especially the Venetian and Genoese colonies, allowed for the development and crystallisation of distinctive social and economic characteristics. These features arose both from the mixed populations within each political entity and from the particular role that the Greek territories assumed under Latin rule. The shaping of these characteristics was also significantly influenced by political, social, and economic changes that began to take place at the European level from the thirteenth century onward. Furthermore, the unique nature of the Venetian and Genoese “republics,” as primarily commercial and economic powers in the eastern Mediterranean, imparted distinctive qualities to their possessions in the Greek world.

The Research Area aims to examine the characteristics of these societies, the transformations that occurred within the local Byzantine community following the arrival of Western rulers, and the processes leading to these changes. Emphasis is also placed on the economic role of the dominions within the framework of their respective metropolises, as well as within the broader Eastern Mediterranean context, focusing on their economic structures and sectors. The Venetian colonies, in particular, along with other territories within the Venetian spheres of influence in the Greek region, constitute a distinct area of research for the Research Area. This includes the study of the development of port cities and urban economies on the one hand, and rural areas and agricultural economies on the other.