The Christianisation of the eastern European Steppe peoples

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-208
Author(s):  
Jarosław Dudek
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Early Middle Ages ◽  
Nomadic Communities

This paper examines the difficulties experienced in bringing Christianity to the peoples of eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages and beyond. In focus are the problems and processes of converting the Eurasian nomads who appeared in the steppes of eastern Europe. The research reveals that the success of missionary activity from various Christian denominations (often associated with trade activities) depended upon the receptiveness of the leaders of nomadic communities. A number of examples from various communities are provided.

scholarly journals Razvoj geografskog i geopolitičkog položaja Hrvatske

Geoadria ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damir Magaš
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Independent State ◽  
Northern Adriatic ◽  
Institutional Relations ◽  
Eastern European Countries

Croatia, with an area of 56.538 km2 and 4,8 million inhabitants is one of 22 recently recognized European countries. It is considered to be one of the new European states, although it existed as an independent state in the early Middle Ages. Its territorial sovereignty has been again consolidated recently. It is the result of internationally recognized borders, the successful resistance of Croat people to the Serb aggressor as well as its political and institutional relations with the International community, Croatian emigration and Bosnian entity.The geographical site of Croatia is significant because it occupies a unique position in a contact area between Central Danubian basin and the Central Mediterranean. It is here that the narrowest and the lowest relief barrier between the Central Danubian basin and the Northern Adriatic is found, connecting Central and Eastern Europe to the Mediterranean.Situated between Western European countries Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and Eastern European countries Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia plays an important geopolitical and traffic role in Europe.

scholarly journals DECORATIONS FROM SHELLS IN THE ADORNMENTS OF EARLY MEDIEVAL SLAVS

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-263
Author(s):  
Ya. V. Volodarets-Urbanovіch
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
General Trend ◽  
Donets Basin ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Early Medieval ◽  
Early Middle Ages ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
The Third

The pendant from Luka-Kavetchyna, dwelling 25 (fig. 2: 1; 3) is the earliest find from the Slavs sites da­ting to the second quarter — the end of the 5th century. The adornment was made of a shell of the genus Murex and is the «legacy» from the Cherniakhіv culture. In the area of that culture are known the pendants made of shells of this genus (type 2 by O. Hopkalo). The pendants from shells appear in use of the Slavs since the second half of the 6th century. Their varieties were used until the first half of the 8th century, although the assemblages and finds with them are few (table 1; fig. 1; 14). In the Slavic assemblages the shells of mollusks of the following species were occurred: Cypraea moneta, C. pantherina, C. tigris, C. arabica. The items from Murex shells are also known. The height of Cypraea moneta is a little more than 2 cm. Other species of shells are larger reaching the height ca. 7—8 cm. The assemblages of the Martinіvka circle include Khatski (fig. 4: A) and Khittsі ones. The grave from Mokhnach belongs to the same antiquities (fig. 2: 2; 5—7). The jewellery by Martynivka circle are dated back to the second half of the 6th century, and the hoards were hidden in the middle — the third quarter of the 7th century. The Pastyrsky circle hoards include the assemblages from Zaitsevo (fig. 4: B) and Kharіvka (fig. 8—10). The hoards by Pastyrsky circle were hidden in the first half of 8th century. The appearance of the pendants from shells is related to the general trend of the spread of Cypraea moneta in Eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages. They are known in the Caucasus, Crimea, the Seversky Donets basin (fig. 11). Cypraea moneta shells were used as pendants in necklaces as evidenced by finds from the Luchiste burial ground from Crimea. The use of other types of shells remains unclear. However, they were probably parts of necklaces or amulets.

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