2020

rozdział w monografii naukowej

polski

EN The paper focuses on the question of the nature of the Piast expansion, more precisely, the expansion beyond their homeland in Greater Poland, which began to be mentioned in written sources since the 960s. However, we can trace its earlier course basing on archaeological material. It suggests that in the mid-tenth century in the southern and northern borderlands the Piasts initiated an intensive settlement movement, whose material manifestation includes taking over and rebuilding old strongholds as well as erecting new strongholds from scratch. The process lasted until the end of the tenth century, reaching probably the very beginning of the eleventh century. What is particularly striking is the fact that the centers, both taken over and constructed from scratch, are concentrated along the Noteć river in the North and along the Barycz river in the South. The observation is so suggestive that it induces some scholars to advance a thesis on the existence of a kind of the Noteć limes, which is thought to have separated and protected the Piast realm from the Pomeranian side. We may suppose that the analogous limes functioned along the Barycz river as well. However, it is difficult not to notice that numerous strongholds, especially the discussed ones – Santok and Milicz, were located in places that had a specific communication value. They opened or protected the roads that led into the interior of the Piast realm, however, they also could have been used for the expansion beyond its territory. The observation provokes a question, whether in the case of the investments on the Noteć and Barycz the aim was to secure the territorial core of the Gniezno monarchy, or also, or maybe first of all, to create a kind of settlement bridge for further expansion. The answer to that question, which, in fact, concerns also technical and organizational aspects of the expansion of the Piast realm, must be connected with the reflection on its purpose. The opinion which have recently gained much popularity is that for early monarchies, including the Gniezno monarchy, it was much more important to acquire valuable moveable goods (precious ores, luxury products, gemstones etc.) than „land and people”. Nevertheless, such an approach to the problem causes a false dilemma. It seems that the purpose of expansion, even in the case of states in the „embryonic” phase, were goods that can be used in the economy of prestige as well as taking over territories in order to exploit its resources, sometimes in a violent way.

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http://europacentralis.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Polska-Pomorze-sasiedzi.pdf

Polska-Pomorze- sąsiedzi (X-XII w.). W kręgu studiów nad początkami średniowiecznej cywilizacji europejskiej

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