AEB_37 Long-distance trade in early medieval Europe

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Petr Charvát, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Měřínský, CSc.
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Dobešová
Timetable
Thu 15. 4. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat, Thu 22. 4. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat, Thu 29. 4. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat, Thu 6. 5. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat, Thu 13. 5. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat, Thu 20. 5. 15:50–19:05 K12 nerezervovat
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The lecture is supposed to familiarize the students with the main features of development of long-distance routes, and especially trade contacts in early medieval Europe (roughly between 500 and 1000 AD). Attention will be primarily focused at the entire course of trade routes, changes occurring as a result of long-term, especially social and ethnical changes, and the role of the Czech speaking countries in the contacts of this kind. The lecture also highlights the historical consequences of long distance trading, mainly with a view to the emergence and development of early statehood, and the presence and social role of ethnical and professional groups, which took their parts in similar entrepreneurial activities (the Jews).
Syllabus
  • 1. 6th to 7th century: Wear-out period of the Roman network of roads and sea routes. Supplying of food to big imperial centres and its development. Distribution of luxurious antique goods. Sea and land routes of long-distance trade and great ethnic moves. European mainland dominated by newcomers (Germans, Slavs, Turkish- and Iranian-speaking groups); the role of Latin-speaking populations. Whose is “Mare nostrum”? Turbulent historical development. 2. 8th century: A dark age. The movement on long-distance routes slows down to almost stopping at some places. The destiny of the Mediterranean sailing. Supplying of the eastern part of Europe through the Silk Road from the East. Khazar Khanate. Towards the end of this period opening of the “iz Varjag v Greki” route and a subsequent development of business activities in the Baltic sea. Beginning of the Viking preying. 3. 9th century: Foundations of prosperity outlined in the chaos. Revivified sailing resulting from technological improvements. The Byzantine Empire has to face Muslim onslaught from the Mediterranean; the Scandinavians start to voyage the Baltic and North seas and alongside the Atlantic coast of Europe get as far as the Mediterranean. Flourishing of the regions near the Silk Road and the “iz Varjag v Greki” route. Great Moravia and the prevailing east-west orientation of long-distance routes of the Czech-speaking countries. 4. 10th century: Move of the centres. Stabilization of the situation in the Mediterranean, where the Byzantine Empire, Islam and Italian town republics rival for the supremacy over trade routes. The role of Jewish communities in the area of long-distance routes. Norsemen and Anglo-Saxons take over the trade routes near the west and north coasts of Europe. Further fates of the Silk Road and the “iz Varjag v Greki” route are influenced by the Khazar Khanate downfall and the development of Kievan Rus. Beginnings of the north-south orientation of long-distance routes of the Czech-speaking countries.
Literature
  • ČORNEJ, Petr. Dějiny evropské civilizace. 4., upr. vyd. Praha: Paseka, 2002, 367 s. ISBN 8071854743. info
  • ČORNEJ, Petr. Dějiny evropské civilizace. 3. vyd. Praha: Paseka, 1999, 367 s. ISBN 807185218X. info
  • ČORNEJ, Petr. Dějiny evropské civilizace. 2., dopl. vyd. Praha: Paseka, 1997, 367 s. ISBN 8071851019. info
  • ČORNEJ, Petr. Dějiny evropské civilizace. 1. vyd. Praha: Paseka, 1995, 317 s. ISBN 807185011X. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
Requirements for the course-unit credit: Adequate and active participation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2002, Spring 2006, Spring 2008, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
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