Being Byzantine

In 1204 The Byzantine Empire Was Conquered By Troops From Western Europe Ostensibly Taking Part In The Fourth Crusade. This Was A Hugely Significant Event For The Subjects Of The Empire Radically Altering The Byzantines'' Self-Image And Weakening Their State For The Later Conflict With The Ottoman Turks. Using The Theory Of Ethnicity - A Comparatively Recent Tool With Regard To The Pre-Modern Era - Gill Page Provides Fresh Insight Into The Late Byzantine Period Providing A Corrective To Nationalistic Interpretations Of The Period Of Frankish Rule And More Broadly To Generally Held Assumptions Of Ethnic Hostility In The Period. A Systematic Analysis Of Texts In Greek From The Period 12001420 From Both Ends Of The Social Spectrum Is Backed Up By An In-Depth Study Of Frankish Rule In The Peloponnese To Reveal The Trends In The Development Of Byzantine Identity Under The Impact Of The Franks.