The politico-religious landscape of medieval Karelia JOHN H. LIND Lind, John H. (2004). The politico-religious landscape of medieval Karelia. Fen- nia 182: 1, pp. 3–11. Helsinki. ISSN 0015-0010. In historical sources the Karelians appear in the 12th century although archae- ological excavations suggest that the amalgamation of groups of Baltic Finns, centered on the Karelian Isthmus, that came together from east and west re- spectively to form them originated in the late Iron Age and early Viking Age. Accordingly they were from the start recipients of impulses from both east and west, a phenomenon that continued throughout the medieval period and ended with their physical division between what became a politico-religious division of Europe between east and west, lasting until today. The article con- centrates on the role played by the landscape, situated on an important pas- sageway of international trade and close to two growing neighbouring pow- ers, Sweden and Novgorod, that profited from this trade route but at the same time became ever more opposed to one another as result of the crusading movement of the Latin Church. John H. Lind, Center of Medieval Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. E-mail:
[email protected]. Introduction lets, connected this Karelian ‘island’ to the large inland lake district of Lake Saimaa with its easy The role a landscape has played in the politico- passages to other more distant lake and river sys- religious context of a region of course varies ac- tems. cording to which period of its history we are look- The climate played its role in defining two quite ing at.