ENTRY TYPE
General |
SUMMARY
The Black Sea served Byzantium as a back yard, by forming a grain storehouse. Byzantine domination over the area was constant from the 4th until the 12th c., basing upon the imperial navy plus the net of the seaport towns accessible via a great number of sea routes. Through Constantinople the empire exercised full control over the commercial traffic. During the 13th c. however merchants from Italy gradually suppressed the Byzantine over lordship in the Black Sea. The aggressive maritime policy plus the nautical superiority ensured the Italians’ leading position in the Black Sea navigation and trade. |
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