Identities and Ideologies in the Medieval East Roman World

This book explores the ideas, beliefs, and practices of identification in the medieval East Roman world, offering an interdisciplinary approach that considers historical, literary, art-historical, and archaeological perspectives. It examines ideological discourses and practices in various contexts, focusing on the content of ideas and their role in shaping group attachments and identifications within the imperial social order. The chapters also explore different visions of community projected within and beyond the empire's political boundaries, including both top-down and bottom-up perspectives and exploring both the empire's center and its periphery.

Format: Hardback
Length: 472 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

This comprehensive book delves into the multifaceted realm of identification in the medieval East Roman world, employing an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses historical, literary, art-historical, and archaeological dimensions. The individual chapters within this text explore the rich tapestry of ideological discourses and practices, shedding light on their significance in shaping diverse group attachments and identifications within the intricate imperial social order. Moreover, they delve into the diverse visions of community projected by various collective identity discourses, both within and beyond the political boundaries of the empire. By adopting a top-down and bottom-up perspective, this collection offers fresh insights into the complex dynamics of ideology and identity in the Byzantine world, enriching our understanding of this fascinating historical era.

Introduction:
The medieval East Roman world, a vibrant and complex region spanning the Eastern Mediterranean, witnessed a profound exploration of ideas, beliefs, and practices related to identification. This book aims to unravel the intricate threads that shaped the identities of individuals and communities within this era. By examining the historical, literary, art-historical, and archaeological dimensions of identification, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon.

Ideological Discourses and Practices:
The individual chapters in this book delve into the rich tapestry of ideological discourses and practices that flourished in the medieval East Roman world. These chapters explore the content of ideas and their role in shaping various group attachments and identifications within the imperial social order. They examine the ways in which ideas such as ethnicity, religion, kinship, and political allegiance intertwined to create complex networks of identity and belonging. The chapters also explore the various visions of community that different collective identity discourses projected within and beyond the political boundaries of the empire.

Top-down and Bottom-up Perspectives:
This book adopts a multifaceted approach, incorporating both top-down and bottom-up perspectives. By examining the empire's center and its periphery, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse ways in which identification was expressed and experienced. The chapters explore the interactions between different social groups, including rulers, elites, commoners, and marginalized communities, and how these interactions shaped the development of identity.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of ideology and identity in the medieval East Roman world. By employing an interdisciplinary approach, it provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex processes that shaped individual and collective identities within this dynamic region. The chapters explore the various ideological discourses and practices, the visions of community, and the interactions between different social groups, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of identification in the Byzantine world. This book will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone with an interest in the history, culture, and identity of the medieval East Roman world.

Weight: 792g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474493628