The history of the Black Sea may be considered as alternating between an âinner lake,â when a single empire establishes control over the sea and its surrounding areas, and that of an open sea, in which various continental or maritime powers compete for the regionâs resources. By taking into account the impact both of major powers and minor political actors, this volume proposes a long-term perspective of regional history. It offers a deep understanding of the political and commercial history of the Black Sea between the 14th and the 16th centuries, and provides insights into the political and economic developments of the region.
Ovidiu Cristea, Ph.D (2003), is Senior Researcher at the Institute of History Nicolae Iorga, Bucharest. He has published books and articles on the Later Crusades, Black Sea History (14th-16th century) and the circulation of information in Southeastern Europe during the early modern period.
Liviu Pilat, Ph.D. (2007), is Professor of Medieval History at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, IaÈi. He has published monographs and articles on various aspects of Central and Eastern European political history in the 15th century.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
âOvidiu Cristea and Liviu Pilat
The Genoese in the Black Sea (1261â1453): Metamorphoses of a Hegemony
âÈerban Papacostea
Catholic Missions in the Golden Horde Territory
âRoman Hautala
Between Byzantium, the Mongol Empire, Genoa and Moldavia: Trade Centers in the North-Western Black Sea Area
âLaurenÈiu RÄdvan
âLa Rotta Della Tanaâ (1343): the Viewpoint of Venetian Chronicles
âÈerban Marin
The Timurids and the Black Sea
âNagy Pienaru
The Principality of Theodoro (Mangup) and Stephen the Greatâs Moldavia: Observations and Hypotheses
âÈtefan S. Gorovei
Attempts at Forging a Genoese-Polish-Tatar Alliance against the Ottoman Empire in 1480â1484
âDanuta Quirini-Poplawska
Dynastic Conflicts, Alliances and the Ottoman Imperial Policy in the Northern Black Sea (1489â1499)
âLiviu Pilat
From Åwierczowski to Wallachian Expedition of Jan Zamoyski: Rise of the Cossack Factor in Polish-Ottoman Relations (1574â1600)
âDariusz Milewski
War and Diplomacy in the Black Sea Region during the âLong Warâ (1593â1606)
âOvidiu Cristea and Ovidiu Olar
Entangled Histories, Entangled Chancelleries? Moldavia and the Crimean Khanate between Pax Mongolica and Pax Ottomanica
âMichaÅ Wasiucionek
Bibliography Index
The volume will interest the scholars who work on the political and economic history of East Central Europe during the late medieval and early modern periods.