ABSTRACT
The dynamics between the eastern and western cultural spheres in regions of the Balkan Peninsula, the Carpathian Mountains and farther to the north have contributed to the emergence of new visual and spatial idioms eclectic with respect to sources. Monasticism and religious reform guided some of the most innovative developments in church architecture both east and west, with ramifications in the territories where traditions intersected. Changes in patterns of patronage, the relationships between patrons and builders, as well as workshop practices also left a mark on monumental building projects. The archaeological, architectural and artistic records demonstrate the networked positions of these Eastern European lands that emerged at the crossroads of Byzantium and the West. The negotiations between different building traditions are especially evident in the religious sphere.
