The Emperors, the Caliph(s) and the Doctor: Cross-Cultural Encounters and Interactions on the "Periphery" of Byzantium (ca. 650-950) (original) (raw)

The paper re-evaluates the perceived marginal significance of Byzantine western provinces, focusing on Sardinia, the Balearics, and parts of Iberia, arguing that these territories were integral to the Byzantine Empire. It investigates how local populations in these regions maintained links to Constantinople through the promotion of Christian-Roman ideology and cross-cultural practices. The study highlights the political and diplomatic importance of the western Mediterranean, revealing the social and cultural strategies employed by local elites to negotiate their identities and power dynamics in a multi-political landscape.