Byzanz Zwischen Orient Und Okzident 5 (Mainz 2017)

Alkiviadis Ginalis The Impact of Byzantium’s Political and Economic History on Mediterranean Seafaring Since the birth of archaeology in the 19th century, Classi- society got confronted and intermixed with new institutions cal Antiquity was considered as the golden era of cultural, and cultures, introducing different levels of communication economic and political development in Europe. In contrast, and interaction 10. By realizing quickly that only the control the later centuries, especially Late Antiquity and the Early over the seas would secure economic and political power, the Middle Ages, have been seen as a time of decline – a period 1NL@M$LOHQDRTCCDMKXV@RMNSNMKXE@BDCVHSGGNRSHKD×DDSR NECDB@X CDSDQHNQ@SHNM@MCCNVME@KK K@BJHMFHMÖMDRRD@MC along its coasts again, but also with new institutions taking seeking for previous glamour 1 . Indeed, until comparatively over the leading part in commerce and communication. This recently, archaeologists tended to ignore and obliterate those crucial period of transition, however, evokes important al- later strata in their desire to reach earlier, more appealing, terations and innovations for developments, later inventions strata. Consequently, the periods of Late Antiquity and Early and other milestones in human history. This can be observed, Middle Ages lack fundamental knowledge and therefore among many other facets, particularly in the transition of still often being called the Dark Ages 2 . But recent historical ship-construction 11. and archaeological research 3 provides a different picture, Over the past few decades numerous researchers such as showing that it was not a time of decline but rather a time of Parker, van Doorninck Jr., Bass and Steffy dealt with and pre- transition and change within a general continuity of Roman s ented various reasons for the development of shipbuilding culture and tradition 4 . Especially the Eastern Mediterranean in Late Antiquity – may it be the decline of labour market, the RGNVRDPT@KKX×NTQHRGHMFDBNMNLHB@MCONKHSHB@K@BSHUHSHDR@MC change of the nature of the cargo, a change in avail ability and development, as well as cultural and social prosperity from access to resources of construction material or the progress the 4th century onwards 5 . and knowledge of technology 12. The reason for the transi- After the last major naval battle of Antiquity at Actium tion and development in Eastern Mediterranean shipbuilding 2ndƁ2DOSDLADQ!" 6 SGD1NL@M$LOHQDÖM@KKXBNMSQNKKDC practices should be seen more as a combination of and an the whole Mediterranean Sea, forming a so-called Mare in- interplay between multiple factors such as commercial, eco- ternum 7 . The incorporation of the sea started a period of nomic, cultural and political-geographical ones instead of political and economic prosperity and peace for some 300 one or the other (as will be shown later). Of course, changes years, known as the Pax Romana 8 . Following those centu- neither took place consistently in all regions nor in a short ries of stability in a world with an enclosed maritime eco- time. Nevertheless, a main transitional period for Eastern nomic system, during Late Antiquity the European landscape Mediterranean shipbuilding, particularly the transformation changed dramatically in all respects, entering a time of politi- and adaption of methods or characteristics such as the hull, cal and economic destabilization 9 . Due to human migration the rigging and the oaring, as well as the steering system, can (Völ kerwanderung), new civilizations and kingdoms such as be placed between the 4th and the 14th century and particu- the Huns (4th-5th century), the Goths (3rd-6th century), the larly between the 6th/7th and the 11th century 13. Vandals (5th century), the Lombards (6th century), the Slavs Closely related to the complex and unprecedented rich (6thƁBDMSTQX SGD U@QRth-7th century) or the Arabs (7thƁBDM- events of Late Antiquity and the medieval period with their tury) spread around the Mediterranean and changed the political, economic, social and cultural transformation and economic situation and political balance. Classical forms of even more to the factors behind the transition of shipbuild- 1 Kingsley, Barbarian Seas ix. – See Gibbon, The History of the Decline. prosperity around the Mediterranean introduced by the emperor Augustus. – 2 Kingsley, Barbarian Seas x. – Oxford English Dictionary (online). For the Pax Romana see: Bianchi, Ara Pacis Augustae. – Ginalis, The Northern 3 Mainly due to the steady increasing activities in Nautical Archaeology, the study Sporades 282. of shipbuilding, seafaring and maritime trade. 9 Kislinger, Verkehrsrouten 149. 4 Brown, The World of Late Antiquity 7. 10 Kingsley, Barbarian Seas 1. 5 Kingsley, Barbarian Seas x. – See further Kingsley / Decker, Economy and Ex- 11 For shipbuilding in that period see: Ginalis, Byzantinische Seefahrt 32-65. – change. Steffy, Wooden Ship Building 79-100. 6 Pitassi, Navies 197. – Starr, The Roman Imperial Navy 7. 53. 12 Parker, Shipwrecks 24-30. – Van Doorninck Jr., Byzantium 139. – Stef fy, 7 First mentioned by Pomponius Mela and Pliny the Elder: Pomponius Mela, De Wooden Ship Building 85-87. Chorographia 1.4. – Plinius Secundus, Naturalis Historia 3.4. 13 Ginalis, Byzantinische Seefahrt 33. – Ginalis, Maritime Traditions 2. – Steffy, 8 The Pax Romana or also called Pax Augusta characterizes the Roman period 6NNCDM2GHO!THKCHMFÖFR between the 1st and 3rd century, experiencing a time of peace and economic The Impact of Byzantium’s Political and Economic History on Seafaring | Alkiviadis Ginalis 199 ing, is the impact of Byzantium’s political and economic his- SG@SÖDKCRNE@QE@HKSNETKKXTSHKHRDSGDDUHCDMBDEQNL@QBG@DNK- tory. The Byzantine Empire (4th-15th century) was long-lived ogy for a wider social- and political-historical context in order and rose and fell with its capital Constantinople at the most to get a full picture and a better broader understanding of decisive geographically strategic crossroad of the Mediter- this interaction. Historians again ignore archaeological stud- ranean, connecting Europe with Asia 14. But similarly to the ies, trying to rely exclusively on image and textual sources. study of Late Antiquity, only in the last decades has the Byz- However, a general historical background on social, political antine Empire been recognized as an extremely important and economic aspects and developments helps to interpret O@QSNESGD$TQNOD@MGHRSNQX @EEDBSHMF@MCHM×TDMBHMFMNS the archaeological evidence. Vice versa, archaeological ma- only its political and economic, but also its cultural, social terial and other human remains of all kinds provide essential and religious development. As such, for a long time it was pieces of information to put the puzzle together and answer considered as being the sad story of a continuous imperial questions such as why? and how?. Why are the late antique decay 15. Only in recent years this has changed and the Byzan- and medieval periods confronted with changes and how are tine world has started to be studied carefully 16. But following these transformations expressed? The following is an over- SGDSQ@CHSHNM@KV@XNECDÖMHMFSGHRDLOHQD !XY@MSHTLHRRSHKK view of the progress in Mediterranean shipbuilding integrated characterized by three main elements, also called the pillars within Byzantium’s political and economic history, attempting of this empire: Christianity, Roman tradition and ideology as to change a one-sided approach. well as Greek cultural heritage 17. But in fact, the real element As a novice at sea, with the First Punic War (264-241 BC) of its power and its development was the control over the the Roman Empire took over the classical and Hellenistic ship- seas. The formula of success throughout Byzantium’s history building traditions of the trireme, quadrireme, quinquereme of more than a thousand years was the role and importance and other subsequent larger types 21. But the establishment of seafaring and its consciousness of the need for swift action of a Mare nostrum 22 with the lack of any organized naval at sea in order to sustain its leading and dominating power opponent in the Mediterranean made the maintenance of a in a period of sweeping changes 18. Communication as the strong navy with heavy naval ships unnecessary. As such, de- new key role, particularly political and economic exchanges spite the fact that Rome owed its power and domination over with different neighbouring civilizations, regions and spheres SGD,DCHSDQQ@MD@M@MCADXNMCSN@MDEÖBHDMS@MCRTODQHNQ NEHM×TDMBD V@R@OQNCTBSNEATS@KRNHM×TDMBDCSGDK@SD navy 23, the organization of the Roman navy shifted towards antique and medieval history of the Byzantine Empire in the smaller units guarding and patrolling along the coastline Mediterranean and beyond. This interaction is expressed by as well as used for escorting and transporting purposes 24. the intense and wide activity of navigation, naval seafaring $WBDOSENQSGDSVNL@HM×DDSRNEclassis Ravennatium and and sea trade. Consequently, the Byzantine Empire played a classis Misenatium 25 (which consisted mainly of triremes and major role in the history of seafaring and particularly in the a few bigger types 26 SGDOQNUHMBH@K×DDSRONRRDRRDC@KLNRS closely related transition in ship-construction. exclusively Liburnae – small, light, swift and manoeuvrable So far around 200 wreck-sites of the 4th to the 15th cen- Illyrian ships with one or two rows of oars, a single mast and a tury of Byzantine provenience or of Byzantine context have ram 27. The commonly used construction

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