Alexander Sarantis is a Late Antique/Byzantine historian whose research interests lie in the field of political and socio-economic developments in the Balkans of the 6th–8th centuries. He is currently an Ulam Fellow, founded by NAWA (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange), at the University of Warsaw (Poland), where he is also Assistant Professor of Late Antique History. The book at hand is based on his doctoral thesis submitted to the University of Oxford in 2006, which was subsequently revised and significantly expanded. In this book, Sarantis examines the historical and archaeological context of the developments in the Balkan provinces of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian I. (527–565) in a comprehensive and detailed manner. In doing so, he aims to demonstrate that the Balkans were in no way politically or strategically subordinate, as the written sources may suggest (pp. 3–4).
After an introduction in which the aims as well as the methodological approach and the essential conclusions are presented, the book is divided into five main chapters. These follow in chronological order the three major phases of Justinian’s reign (527–540, 540–552, 553–565) and take a brief look at the time after Justinian.
Chapter one deals with the early phase of Justinian’s reign and discusses the various responses to threats from several non-Roman groups, including the Huns, Gepids and Bulgars. Sarantis highlights not only military campaigns but also Justinian’s different diplomatic endeavours, such as several alliances with non-Roman groups (pp. 110–111).
Chapter two likewise deals with the first phase of Justinian’s reign, but also looks at the preceding developments in the Balkan provinces of the 4th and 5th centuries and the impact which the barbarian migration had during this period (pp. 113–129). Sarantis thoroughly examines Justinian’s reforms as well as his building and fortification programme and their effects, before turning his attention to the socio-economic situation in the Balkan provinces in the 6th century (pp. 198–226).
In the third chapter, Sarantis focuses on the second phase of Justinian’s reign, whose most important source is the History of the Wars by Procopius of Caesarea (p. 227), a phase that was marked not least by an economic crisis and the decline of agricultural manpower (pp. 228–229). Entitled “Crisis in the Balkans”, Sarantis directs his attention to the Empire’s numerous opponents, some of whom were now re-emerging, their plundering campaigns and Justinian’s massive military response, as well as the changing diplomatic relations between the various groups and the Roman Empire (pp. 300–312).
Chapter four focuses on the last period of Justinian’s reign, which was marked by the appearance of the Avars and the Hun attacks in the Balkans (pp. 333–349). In this chapter, Sarantis once again focuses more on the archaeological sources and considers the consequences of the invasions on the Balkan Peninsula from this perspective as well (pp. 357–372). Sarantis emphasises that, contrary to the picture presented by the written sources, there was no evidential socio-economic decline. Justinian was able to continue successfully defending the Balkan provinces, especially through the well-proven combination of diplomatic and military activities (p. 372).
Sarantis devotes his fifth chapter to the developments under Justinian’s successors (Justin II, 565–578, Tiberius II. Constantine, 578–582 and Maurice 582–602), thereby completing the picture. Sarantis points out that a period of serious conflict followed Justinian’s death, whose main protagonists were especially Avars and Slavs and which was characterised by insufficient military and diplomatic reactions (p. 375).
The book is rounded up by a comprehensive conclusion, which is divided into six subchapters and presents the main findings in a concise manner.
With his book, Alexander Sarantis offers a profound picture of the Balkan policy of Justinian I. The inclusion of socio-economic aspects completes this picture, increasing its complexity and its academical value. Particularly noteworthy is also the consideration of archaeological, numismatic, and epigraphic sources, which significantly complement the picture. In doing so, his book fills a gap in the research on Justinian I., which until now has focused on developments in the East (Sasanian Persian Empire), North Africa (Vandals) and Italy (Goths, Lombards), while the provinces south of the Danube have not yet been the subject of a monograph. Sarantis’ book is both an excellent introduction to the complex situation in the Balkan provinces during the reign of Justinian I. and a detailed work that is equally valuable for further research.