East and West in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean

This is the second volume on medieval Antioch which is meant to become a series of studies on less well-known aspects of the city's eventful history. Its multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-linguistic character pose more than one problem which needs further investigation. Unknown material, new interpretations of texts, translations of unknown or less accessible texts accompanied by commentaries, are the main focus of this series of publications on Antioch. This volume reponds to this initiative. Various contributions highlight unknown or understudied aspects of this history. A translation of a Logos of the Greek theologian Nikon of the Black Mountain is presented by Wim Aerts. An almost unknown anonymous enumeration of descriptions of the castles of Nureddin, written in Arabic, was made by Tevfik Buyukasik. The description of Edessa in Abu al-Makarim's History of the Churches and Monasteries of Egypt and some neighbouring Countries was translated by Clara ten Hacken. The Greek Reconquest in 969 influenced Byzantine art (Alexander Simansky). In the same period Northerners from Scandinavia are signalled in Antioch (Krijnie Ciggaar).The Latin conquest of 1098 and its aftermath are discussed by Thomas Asbridge. Jochen Burgtorf focuses on the Hospitaller Lordship of Margat. Tasha Vorderstrasse concentrates on contacts with China, Mongolia and Armenia, while Balazs Major presents material culture when discussing a mill in Valania. In the article by Laurence Delobette crusaders from Burgundy appear on the scene after 1268. The various articles stimulate further research and discussion on the various aspects of the history of this important and influential city in the Eastern Mediterranean.