ABSTRACT
Byzantine fortifications, especially those beyond the boundaries of Constantinople, have long been an understudied topic. The chapter presents original material for three case studies, being three diverse groups of sites that were in use during the Middle Byzantine period. They include provincial capitals, coastal forts, and island defensive networks. Relating these groups to the growing bibliography on the fortifications of Byzantine Greece, the authors hope to throw light on the complex and varied realities in which these communal buildings were created and used. Far from being homogenous, provincial fortifications are the remnants of a society whose vitality was primarily directed towards self-preservation.
