Byzanz als Raum

The project Tabula Imperii Byzantini, which was initiated in 1966, deals with the exploration of the historico-geographical data of the Byzantine Empire. Now that approximately half otf the central areas of the empire (in the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the Aegean) have been presented in nine volumes with accompanying maps, it seems to be of importance to take stock and to reflect upon the development of the project in the future. Since the beginning of the project the necessary relevant scientific disciplines have been developed methodologically and differentiated in terms of with regard to its their contents. These circumstances require the use of the now amplified basis of information and refined methods for the project. For this reason, in preparing the symposium “Byzanz als Raum” (“Byzantium as space”) as well as in choosing the speakers, emphasis was laid on questions of methods.The eighteen contributions published here for the first time touch upon very differentne aspects such as regional chronology as a source for the geography of Protogbyzantine administration, terminology of late Byzantine administration, Byzantine lead seals as a source for civil, military and ecclesiastical administration, the combination of written sources with the results of archaeology, palaeoclimatology, palaeozoology and palaeobotany, toponyms and micro-toponyms as a basis of information for topography, climatology, economy and ethnography. Great advances in scientific knowledge were obtained have been made by the exploration of places of production and trade-routes of ceramics. The quantifying and space-covering comprehensive registration of all findings on the ground provide a new basis for social history as well as the history of settlements and economics. Some articles Finally, a number of articles deal with the exploration of selected regions such as Macedonia, Bithynia, Siciely, Beoetia or smaller geographical areas, e.g. the territories of Sagalassos and Istlada.