The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century [Paperback]

John V. A. Fine Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1991

Discusses the development of ethnic nationalism among Bulgars, Croatians, Serbians, and Macedonians

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press (May 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0472081497
• ISBN-13: 978-0472081493
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind...., November 22, 2000

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century (Paperback)

A few years ago I became interested in the difficulties in the former Yugoslavia--now Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and a few other entities. After reading a number of contemporary works about the causes of past and current conflicts in the Balkans, I decided none of the authors agreed on every point or many points for that matter, and most seemed a bit biased in their reporting and interpretation of events, probably owing to their inability to attend to the terrible events of the last century and not choose sides.

THE EARLY MEDIEVAL BALKANS is the most objective work available about what really happened all those years ago when the Byzantine Empire ruled what is now known as the Balkans, and Serbs, Croatians, Ottoman Turks, and others migrated and/or invaded and settled the area the Italian Romans called Illyria.

The book is part of a two-part work covering the Middle Ages in the Balkans. Part I THE EARLY MEDIEVAL BALKANS includes a critical survey of the area from the Sixth to the late Twelfth Century. Part II THE LATE MEDIEVAL BALKANS covers the period from the late Twelfth Century until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in the 14th Century. Fine was a Professor of History at the University of Michigan for a number of years, and his work is incredibly scholarly. He has been considered the leading expert in the world on this topic by his colleagues.

I came away from the work with two impressions. The first is that the various ethnic groups who inhabited or invaded the Balkans (and there were so many one loses count after awhile as they migrate or remigrate over and over) were so thoroughly mixed during the Middle Ages that the indigenous tribe, whatever that was, must have disappeared thousands of years ago. The second fact I deduced from Dr. Fine's work is that most if not all the animosity between groups today probably has a basis in religious conflict. Given that the three major religions involved -- Roman Catholic, Orthodox Serb, and Muslim advocate love as an organizing principle, one has to wonder what went wrong.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is difficult to read. For a more "fun" read try the series on Byzantium by J.J.Norwich.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic!, May 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century (Paperback)

I am from Bosnia, of mixed ethnic origins, and after 7 years of exile, I had only faint memories of the history classes dedicated to the Middle Ages (in the 6th grade). This book refreshed my memory, brought a part my past back to me, and helped clear up some misconceptions. It makes me very happy to own it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and Easy, October 25, 2004

By 

Evren Ser "Evrenos" (Turkey(Ankara)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century (Paperback)

I think that this book is really simple in vocabulary and in its subject. I really didnt become tired of reading this book so I think that the authors style is very good for the beginners.Another plus for this book is that the author rarely expands its subject from the Balkan History. And the impartial position of the author is another plus.And if you want to learn Balkan history ,Slavic and Turkish(Bulgarian)participation and the stance of the Romans(Europeans insist on Byzantine) this book is the one o the good ones.