Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie (Jan 2015)
The Nomads and Byzantine Empire in the Writings of Early Byzantine Historians of the 4th–6th centuries »
Abstract
Based on the information of Byzantine authors (Ammianus Marcellinus, Priscus Panites, Procopius of Caesarea, Agathius Myrine, Menander Protector), this paper explores the relationship between the Byzantines and nomadic peoples of the Eurasian Steppe – the Huns, Turks, and Avars. The author illuminates the peculiarities of perception of the nomadic barbarians from the point of view of the Byzantine imperial worldview. Based on the analysis of the Byzantine sources, the author has attempted to uncover the Romans’ subjective perception of the eastern steppe civilizations. This article contains some information about the appearance, customs, traditions, and way of life of nomads, their relations with the Byzantine Empire since the advent of the hordes of Huns in its territory in the late 4th century up to diplomatic relations with the first steppe empire – the Great Turkic Khaganate as well as Avar khanate in the 6th century. Author clarified the propensity of eastern nomadic and western settled civilizations to the establishment of bilateral contacts and traced the dynamics and evolution of their mutual relationship. The author translated from ancient Greek the fragments of works of early Byzantine authors contained in this article
