The Early Modern Zagori of Northwest Greece: An Interdisciplinary Archaeological Inquiry into a Montane Cultural Landscape

This investigation of Zagori in Northwest Greece explores the archaeology and cultural history of a mountainous area that thrived in the Ottoman period, challenging the view that mountains support a predominantly pastoral way of life and demonstrating the continuity of regional elites from the Byzantine to Ottoman period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2022
Publisher: Sidestone Press

Landscape-archaeology projects have profoundly enriched our understanding of the deep history of the Greek countryside, yet they have predominantly focused on the plains and largely neglected the Ottoman period. This research in Zagori, a mountainous region in Northwest Greece, delves into the archaeology and cultural history of this area, which thrived during the Ottoman era. By employing an inclusive methodology that combines critical historiography, archival research, oral history, and landscape-archaeological survey, this study offers novel insights into this montane landscape and its unique history and cultural heritage.

In contrast to the dominant nationalist historiography, this research demonstrates the continuity of regional elites from the Byzantine to Ottoman periods in Epirus, shaping settlement patterns and elite/non-elite sedentary adaptations in this montane region. It also gives voice to the labor-intensive, gender-specific, cultural landscape of the Zagori peasantry, challenging the notion that mountains support a predominantly pastoral way of life.

This investigation of Zagori in Northwest Greece contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex and multifaceted history of the Greek countryside during the early modern period. It highlights the significance of upland regions in shaping historical processes and challenges the notion of a linear progression from antiquity to the modern era. By exploring the archaeology and cultural history of Zagori, this research provides valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic landscapes of the region and their role in shaping the lives and livelihoods of its inhabitants.

Dimension: 280 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464280371