POLOG DURING THE PERIOD OF THE 11THCT–1355

Abstract

The object of study of this paper is the Polog valley during the period of the 11th ct. to 1355. The concept Arbëri and Polog will be addressed in particular, as well as the involvement of this region within the ethno-geographic borders of medieval Albania. Thus, the achievements in the fields of archaeology, history, linguistics, prove that Polog valley has been involved in the east side of the Albanian lands during the Middle Ages and the presence of the Albanian ethnos in these settlements. This paper will also address the political situation of Polog in the 11th ct to 1355 using the data extracted from the sources of the time. These sources inform us about the political position the valley held during the Bulgarian, Byzantine, Serbian, Epirote and Nicaean rule. The historical data presented in this paper enable us to get to know the main routes that crossed Polog during the Middle Ages used for internal economic and cultural communication as well as with neighboring countries. We have also identified the settlements and religious facilities and their properties in Polog.