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Articles

• Matschke, Klaus-Peter

The author of this short prosopographical case study is basically interestedin the various social continuities persisting during fundamental politicalcollapse. He attempts to point out how the military events on the Golden Hornin the mid-15th century affected the daily life of different merchant families inConstantinople/Istanbul, the conditions of their economic and social existence,their business attitudes and the dimensions of their commercial activities, andhe dares to pose the question whether these merchants with their businesscontacts influenced in turn the great political decisions and the general courseof history in this important area between Asia and Europe.

• History and Archaeology

• Ιστορία

Οικογένειες εμπόρων της Κωνσταντινούπολης

This essay is based on a paper presented at a conference held at Princeton Universityin November 1994 on “The business of change - merchants and the fall of Constantinople”.I would like to thank the organisers and in particular Professor Judith Herrin for enabling meto attend what for me was a very important gathering.