This is a completely new approach to the history of Greece during the early Middle Ages. This book is the first comprehensive treatment of the economic and social history of Greece during the early Middle Ages. From the collapse of the urban economy in the early 7th century to the beginning of prosperity during the first half of the 11th century, it examines the crucial transformations taking place in Greece during the 'Dark Ages' and the Middle Byzantine period. Bringing together archaeological and historical research of early medieval Greece, Curta offers a completely new dimension in the history of the region, which has never been considered in its totality and is still relatively unknown. Modern boundaries and nationalist preconception regarding ethnic identity have long hindered an adequate study of early medieval Greece. By contrast, the wide-ranging approach adopted here highlights the similarities and differences in the archaeological evidence associated with different social and ethnic groups, whose identities were much more fluid than previously imagined.