The Monasteries of Athos and Chalkidiki (8th-11th Centuries): A Pioneering Front?

Monastic settlements on Mount Athos, Chalkidiki, emerged as a significant response to overcrowding and political shifts following the re-establishment of the Cult of Images in 843. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, monks sought solitude from the densely populated Bithynian Olympus (modern-day Uludağ, Turkey), leading to their migration and establishment on Mount Athos. The study reveals that this period was marked by intense conflicts over land use, particularly grazing lands, between monasteries—including prominent imperial institutions like Xeropotamou, Lavra, and Iviron—and local village communities. Despite the economic growth of the 9th century, which enriched central authorities through tax revenues from abandoned 'klasma' lands, regional officials often sided with villages in these disputes, highlighting a complex interplay between monastic ambitions, peasant resistance, and political authority.

Kaplan, M. (2019). The Monasteries of Athos and Chalkidiki (8th-11th Centuries): A Pioneering Front? Medieval Worlds, medieval worlds(Volume 9. 2019), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1553/medievalworlds_no9_2019s63