Land Legislation of the Macedonian Emperors (Mediaeval Sources in Translation)

The land legislation issued by the emperors of the Macedonian dynasty is the most important source for the internal history of tenth-century Byzantium. This volume offers the first full translation of the land legislation into English. To make the work accessible to non-specialists and specialists alike, the introduction covers the background and content of the legislation, and reviews the principal institutions of Byzantine rural society: the village communes, the military lands, and the monasteries. The translations aim to strike a balance between adherence to the technical nature of the documents and presentation of clear, readable texts. Where necessary, technical terms and specific details are explained in the notes to the translations; the notes also direct the reader to the relevant scholarly literature concerning the legal, social, and agrarian aspects of the land legislation. Maps and a glossary are also included as aids to the reader.