Roma in the chosen territories of the Balkans and Asia Minor during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire (900-1923)

The thesis describes and evaluates important periods in the life of the Roma in the chosen territories of the Balkans and Asia Minor during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. The thesis describes status and sources of living of the Roma with emphasis on historical and social context of these Empires. There were analysed state, church and folklore sources of information and also papers of foreign travellers. 90 The first part of the thesis focuses on the period of Byzantine Empire and try to make obvious problematic points, when the Roma arrived at the given territory. The arrival of Roma at Anatolia and Balkans is usually dated to the 11th century, however newer theory about no-being of heretical sect Athinganoi evidences possibility, that Roma could already lived there few centuries earlier. Furthermore, this part concentrates on question of historical sources and appelatives of Roma or shows possible influence of Armenian and Greek to Romani language in the chosen territories. The thesis also discusses status and sources of living of the Roma in Byzantine society. The second part of the thesis is concentrated on Ottoman Empire, where Roma became part of new Muslim state. This part of thesis at first deals with tax laws and registers, which refer to Roma and describe reasons of Roma taxation. All Roma had..