Networks of border zones: A case study on the historical region of Macedonia in the 14th century AD

Abstract

This case study puts an emphasis on the border zones between the Byzantine Empire and the emerging Serbian mediaeval state in the historical region of Macedonia in South-eastern Europe in the 14th century AD. The present case study turns to the micro-level of historical geography by focusing on one of the areas of the macro-level, namely the city of Štip and on the adjacent valley of the river Strumica. The valley’s pattern of settlement has recently been reconstructed by analysing Byzantine and Slavonic charters. The localised settlements were used to create a model of the abovementioned valley by applying the modified Central Place Theory. In the course of the present case study this “classic” approach of analysis of settlement patterns and its “analogue” picture is evaluated by introducing indices of centrality, namely the König number, and by applying network analysis via the computer software *Ora.