The beginnings and foundation of Byzantine studies

"The present monograph attempts a delineation of the development of Byzantine historical and philological studies, particularly in the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, when the real foundations of the discipline of byzantinology were laid, mainly in Germany and France. In the 16th century scholars like Hieronymo Wolff, David Hoeschel, Wilhelm Holzmann (Xylander), Dennis Petau (Petavius), Johannes van Meursius, Nicholas Alemannus and others, established the initial firm foundations, to be ensued, in the 17th century, by Philippe Labbe, Leo Allatius, Martin Kraus (Martinus Crusius), Jean-Albert Fabricius, Charles du Fresne Du Cange (Ducangius), Jean Mabillon, Bernard de Montfaucon, Anselmo Banduri, Michel Le Quien, and many others. This book also treats the "vicissitudes" suffered by byzantinology in the 18th century despite the presence of important byzantinists in that era. It also refers to the renovated attempts aiming at stabler foundations in the course of the 19th century and especially through the "Herculean" task by Jacques-Paul Migne and his editions of the two Patrologies (Greek and Latin), as well as through pioneer researches and critical editions on the part of great scholars in several European countries. The sequel to the present essay will focus to a significant extent, on the development of byzantinology in Greece from the early 20th century onwards."--