Nearly ail local ethnic groups were to be found there. Pontic Hellenism, supported by the Empire of Trebizond, and the commercial activities of Italians produced mostly characteristic features of the syncretic culture created in this Tatar-dominated province. Chapter 13 considers a debated question of the time and circumstances surrounding the creation of Italian Tana. New documents and different approaches were combined to reveal the various phases of the foundation and functioning of the trading stations within the territory of the Golden Horde (Chs. 13 and 17). Axes of commerce running through Tana, their directions and importance are studied in Chapter 14. The civil status and ethnic composition of Tana's population may be statistically verified through the large dossier of a Venetian notary and chancellor in Tana, Benedetto Bianco (1359–1363) (Ch. 15). A newly discovered feature is the existence in Tana of an Orthodox parish with Greek and Slavonic worshippers (Ch. 16). Gradually, the metropolitans of Trebizond became the main religious authority in Tana, replacing the bishops of Alania.
Thus, Pontic Hellenism and Italian colonization form the general framework of this book, consisting partly of previously published and revised articles, partly of new entries. Numerous distinguished scholars from many countries, among whom are J. Fallmerayer, G. Finlay, W. Heyd, F. I. Uspenskij, W. Miller, A.A. Vasiliev, E. Skrzhinskaya, N. Iorga, G. Bratianu, O. Lampsides, A. Bryer, M. Balard, G. Pistarino — and so many others — contributed to a better knowledge of medieval Pontos. This work is a modest continuation of their efforts, under new aspects and with a wider treatment of Italian archival sources.
I am grateful to Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. and to Professor G.M. Bongard-Levin for their proposal to have this book published. I am also indebted to the Open Society for a grant supporting this research (RSS, No.: 297/1999)
АДСВ — Античная древность, средние века. Свердловск/Екатеринбург.
АП — Άρχειον Πόντου
ВВ — Византийский временник
ВДИ — Вестник древней истории
ВИ — Вопросы истории
ВО — Византийские очерки
ЗООИД — Записки Одесского Общества Истории и Древностей
ЗРВИ — Записки Радова Византолошког Института
ИРАИК — Известия Русского Археологического Института в Константинополе
ИТУАК — Известия Таврической Ученой рхивной Комиссии
ИФЖ — Историко-филологический журнал. Ереван
МАИЭТ — Материалы по археологии, истории и этнографии Таврии. Симферополь.
НЭ — Нумизматика и Эпиграфика
СВ — Средние века
УЗ — Ученые записки
ASLSP — Atti deila Società Ligure di Storia Patria. Genova
BF — Byzantinische Forschungen
BMGS — Byzantine and Middle Greek Studies
BS — Byzantinoslavica
Byz — Byzantion
DOP — Dumbarton Oaks Papers
EO — Echos d Orient
GGM — Geographi graeci minores/ed. C. Müller. Paris, 1855; 1861. T. 1–2.
HDSE — Rosenqyist J.O. The Hagiographie Dossier of St Eugenios of Trebizond in Codex Athous Dionysiou 154. A Critical Edition with Introduction, Translation, Commentary and Indexes. Uppsala, 1996.
JA — Journal Asiatique
JÖB — Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik
ΚΕΦΣ — Ο εν Κωνσναντινουπόλει Ελληνικός Φιλολογικός Σύλλογος.
LPP — Lampros Sp. Ρ. Παλαιολόγεια και Πελοποννησιακά. Athenai, 1912–1930. Τ. 1–4.
MGH — Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
MHR — Mediterranean Historical Review, Tel Aviv — London
MM — Miklosich F, Muller J Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana
NC — Numismatic Chronicle
NE — Νέος Ελληνομνημων
OCP — Orientalia Christiana Periodica
PLP — Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit. Fase. 1–12, Addenda. Wien, 1976–1996.
PRK — Das Register des Patriarchats von Konstantinopel. Ι—II Teil. Wien, 1981; 1995.
REB — Revue des Études Byzantines
RESEE — Revue des études sud-est européennes
RHC, DA — Recueil des Historiens des Croisades, Documents Arméniens. Paris.
RHC, HOcc. — Recueil des Historiens des Croisades, Historiens Occidentaux. Paris
RHC, HOr. — Recueil des Historiens des Croisades, Historiens Orientaux. Paris
RIS — Rerum Italicarum scriptores, ed. L. Muratori.
ROL — Revue de l'Orient Latin
SV — Studi Veneziani.
TM — Centre de Recherche d'Histoire et du Civilisation de Byzance. Travaux et Mémoires.
TT — Tafel G.L F, Thomas G.M. Urkunden zur älteren Handels-und Staatsgeschichte der Republik Venedig mit besonderer Beziehung auf Byzanz und die Levante vom neunten bis zum Ausgang des fünfzehnten Jahrhunderts. Wien, 1856–1857. Bd. 1–3 [Repr.: Amsterdam, 1964].
