A World on the Move. Challenges and Perspectives of the Research Program Migration Movements in Byzantine World (1261–1453) (MIMOZA Project)

The last centuries of the Byzantine Empire have not been systematically examined thus far with regards to migration, which took place in a fluid political environment. As part of the global political and economic system that connected Northwestern Europe to China via the Silk Roads and the movements of nomadic populations, Byzantium was significantly affected by the political and territorial upheavals that reshaped the Southeastern Mediterranean in the mid-13th century. These included the Mongol invasions and the rise of new powers in the Muslim world, such as the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and the Ottoman state in Asia Minor. From the 13th to the 15th century, continuous military operations, civil conflicts, and territorial contraction led to the political fragmentation of the Byzantine territory and resulted in individual and collective migrations within and beyond the borders of Byzantium.
This research project, funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) under the 3rd Call for HFRI’s Research Projects to Support Faculty Members and Researchers, intents to digitally document, analyze, and preserve data on internal and external migrations of individuals and groups in Byzantium during the Palaiologan period (1261–1453). The project presentation outlines the typology of migrations and the interdisciplinary methodological framework, which integrates written sources, archaeological evidence, and data derived from genomic and isotopic analyses, alongside the application of advanced digital tools. The chronological scope, anticipated outcomes, and the composition of the Research Team constitute key components of this funded project’s presentation.