Remarks on the Topography and Toponymy of Southwestern Thrace

In this paper I focus on the southwesternmost part of Thrace, more precisely the Prefectures of Xanthi and Rodopi of the Hellenic Republic. My aim is to draw conclusions about the economy, administration and transport on the basis of the historical topography and toponymy, primarily from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Of particular interest are the connections to the neighboring regions of Macedonia, Eastern Thrace and the Rodope region.