Ways and Methods of Byzantine Political and Cultural Expansion on Balkan from Middle of 7th Century to First Decades of 11th Century

Abstract

The Slaves that settled on Balkan in the first half of the seventh century have there wrecked the might of Byzant which preserved its authority on the territory along the Adriatic coast to the Black sea while the inner land was ruled by Slaves. With various methods Byzant iried to enlarge its influence on lost territories. Such methods were military actions and cultural-ideological influence (Church). Only after conquest over Samuel and successors at the beginning of the 11th century Byzant gained the entire west part of the Balkan Peninsula. Undoubtful and permanent success presented the measures by the Church and government with which the Slaves were given ground for their culture.