Description

Eunuchs, Patriarchs and Macedonians is an investigation into different aspects of the Middle-Byzantine society from the 7th to the 11th century. It is subdivided into four topics, the first of which deals with "Women and Eunuchs (a Contribution to Gender Studies)". This chapter examines quantitative and qualitative aspects of women and eunuchs in relation to the male population. The focus is also on the networking capabilities of these social groups, which differ significantly. A completely new approach is the reconstruction of the hierarchy of the ladies-in-waiting at the imperial court and of the ceremonial role of other female title holders. The second topic refers to the relationship between "Clergy and Laity". Here, too, quantitative and qualitative aspects of these social groups are taken into consideration. Monastic as well as laical-clerical networks are thoroughly analyzed. The latter in particular led to the formation of a Middle-Byzantine elite. The third topic refers to "Ethnicities and Gentes". The analysis wants to find out, which indigenous ethnical-cultural groups from the Balkans and Asia Minor are still tangible in den Middle-Byzantine period. Macedonians, Thracians, Capadocians and Lycaonians deserve special attention in this context. The fourth topic is titled "Youth and Old Age". Thomas Pratsch substantiates our considerations about life expectancy in Byzantium with a more detailed analysis of the average life expectancy of privileged social groups such as emperors, patriarchs, and saints. This leads to a more detailed assessment about the life expectancy of these groups without very much changing the general assumption of a probable average life expectancy in Byzantium of approximately 40 years.