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Abstract
Due to the limited literature, previous studies on Byzantine economic thought did not pay enough attention towards it as in the field of economic thought of medieval Western Europe, while in recent decades, Byzantine scholars have discovered sufficient materials. However, on the one hand, there are few detailed interpretations from the view of economist of original archives, legal comments and recent published materials. On the other hand, a chronological retrospection remain undiscussed in the view of economic thought. This paper will mainly attempt to make clearer and more integrated the Byzantine economic thought, focusing on 8-12th century the very mid-byzantine time, during which Byzantium were believed to have the character of a wide-ranging empire and relatively active economic activities. In the first part, I will discuss economic thought in rural and urban Byzantium in the 8th-10th centuries in the context of law and agrarian books. In the second part, the late 11th-century Strategikon of Kekaumenos will be revisited in terms of the history of economic thought, which will be an attempt to clarify the economic thought of the 12th century layman. Finally, with reference to the latest research, I will explore economic thought in the law commentaries of ecclesiastical law scholars almost contemporary with Kekaumenos.
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