Themes and Objectives
Research on early medieval economic and social communication routes in Eastern Europe has traditionally focused on well-known pathways, leaving significant networks under-explored. The long and short-distance routes between the Black and Baltic seas, particularly in central and northern Ukraine along the Southern and Western Bug rivers, the River Vistula, and other waterways of modern Poland, hold immense potential for new insights. Examining these routes is essential to understand their role in facilitating interactions among the Kingdom of Poland, Scandinavian kingdoms, Slavic tribes, the Pechenegs, and the Byzantine Empire. In turn, understanding these multifaceted and multicultural interactions is crucial for a comprehensive grasp of the broader socio-political and economic landscape of early medieval Europe, widely referred to as the period of state formation.
Despite their significance, these routes have not received adequate scholarly attention. The ongoing invasion of Ukraine adds urgency to the documentation and study of these historically rich areas, as there is a risk of losing valuable archaeological sites and cultural heritage to Russian missile bombardment and other perils of war. Recent advancements in archaeological methods and increased accessibility to historical records provide a unique opportunity to revisit and revise existing narratives about early medieval trade routes. Without a concerted effort to unite existing research and foster international collaboration, these opportunities may remain untapped.
This conference is designed to address this gap by uniting novel research and providing a framework for future international efforts focused on these academically under-represented routes.
The event aims to:
1. Discuss recent and historical research on early medieval trade routes along the Bug rivers, highlighting their significance in connecting the Rus, Poland, Scandinavians, Slavic tribes, and the Byzantine Empire
2. Deliberate on the role of geography and climate in demographic changes within the basin of the Bug rivers during the early medieval period.
3. Examine how geographic terrain influenced political climates in the region throughout the medieval era, emphasising the importance of physical landscapes in historical developments through GIS-assisted reconstruction.
4. Identify future areas of interest and pressing points of investigation for archaeological and historical disciplines within the defined geographical and academic scope.
Organized by Dr. Stepan Stepanenko
