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

John V. A. Fine Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1994

"Any further advances in scholarship on the late medieval Balkans will have to begin with this book."
---George Majeska, University of Maryland

The Late Medieval Balkans is the first comprehensive examination of the events of the late medieval Balkan history---events that were as important as they were fascinating.

The period that John Fine examines was an era of significant demographic, political, and religious change in the region. During this time, native populations were supplemented or replaced by the Bulgars and various Slavic tribes, who were to become the Bulgarians, Serbs, and Croats---ethnic identities whose historical conflicts have persisted to this day.

The Late Medieval Balkans is an important source for those who wish to expand their knowledge of this turbulent period and who wish to broaden their understanding of the region.

John V. A. Fine, Jr., is Professor of History, University of Michigan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press (June 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0472082604
• ISBN-13: 978-0472082605
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Late Medieval Balkans, June 28, 2000

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John E. Mack (New London, Minnesota United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. It is the second volume in a two-volume series, covering the history of the northern Balkan penninsula from approximately 500 A.D. to about 1500 A.D. For most non-specialists, the material will be almost completely unfamiliar. Fine's approach falls somewhere between a general survey and a technical treatise. Narrative history is emphasized over descriptive history, as befits a work covering unfamiliar matter. The topics are treated chronologically, and within a chronological period, are treated by area (i.e., Serbia, Bulgaria, Crotia, etc.) The subtitle (A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Centruy to the Ottoman Conquest) is a bit of a misnomer; the second half of the book is virtually a history of the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans and ends with the Balkans completely under Ottoman control. The research is extensive and the topic is treated comprehensively. First rate.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Primary source for pre-ottomanic Balkan History, October 25, 2004

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Evren Ser "Evrenos" (Turkey(Ankara)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest (Paperback)

This book is the second one of the series. And its better than the first book.All the time I wonder how was the pre-ottomanic Balkans. This book is enough to satisfy me. It is comprehensive and (very important) not boring. In this book we can see the formation of the Balkan States and we can clearly observe why this Balkan states fell to the Ottoman Turks without any hard resistance. And we can see how Hungary, Pope and Venetians try to impose their rules to the states. Another important subject is that how the Orthodox branch of Christendhom falls in danger by the declining of the Romans.And I think that the consolidation of the Orthodoxy in these states owes it to the much more tolerable and even supportive policy of the Ottaman Empire.And we can understand that the most peaceful times in the Balkans is the Ottomanic period.