PREFATORY NOTE
Most of the twenty papers contained in this volume were first presented and discussed at the International Conference "Aspects of the Balkans: Continuity and Change", arranged by the Russian and East European Studies Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and held on the UCLA campus and at the University of California Conference Center at Lake Arrowhead, October 23-28, 1969. Only two papers (by Professors Kostanick and Williams) were not read at the Conference due to their authors' inability to attend. They too, however, were prepared with a view to this Conference. By kind agreement, Professor İnalcik's paper was presented by his professional colleague, Professor Stanford Shaw of the UCLA Department of History, thus allowing for a brief discussion also of this contribution. In addition to the participants contributing papers, the Conference was attended by a number of invited scholars from the United States and Europe; moreover, the sessions held on the UCLA campus were open to the public. Before being submitted for publication, all papers actually read at the Conference were revised in the light of the discussion following each presentation.
In preparing this volume for publication, the editors have not aimed at giving the various contributions a uniform format as regards spelling, transliteration, bibliographical references, etc. On the other hand, an effort was made to achieve maximum formal consistency within each paper. Presentations in other than English appear in the original language.
When planning the Conference the tangible results of which are herewith presented to the scholarly community, the editors (who also actced as the organizing committee) strove for a broad range of topics feasible within the scope of a conference with limited participation. In particular, as expounded in some detail in Professor Vryonis' concluding
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remarks (sec Epilogue), the Conference was conceived as primarily focusing on some of the main junctures in Balkan history and, in doing so, adopting an approach in terms of topical rather than ethnic divisions. Yet the editors are keenly aware that certain geographic areas of the Balkans, notably Rumania and Albania, have received relatively less attention than what might seem justified by their role in Balkan history. This slight imbalance is due to difficulties in securing the participation of first-rate scholars in the special fields of Rumanian and Albanian studies rather than to any implicit prejudice. It is nonetheless hoped that the overall coverage of this volume will be deemed impressive in scope and significant in substance.
Our sincere thanks go to a number of persons who have been helpful in making arrangements for the UCLA Conference as well as in preparing the publication of this volume. In particular, the editors wish to express their appreciation to Mrs. Lucille Liets, Administrative Assistant of the Russian and East European Studies Center, UCLA, and her staff.
Two grants, from the James B. Duke Endowment Fund and the Committee on International and Comparative Studies, made available to the Center by the UCLA Administration toward defraying the costs of the Conference and the publication of its proceedings, are herewith gratefully acknowledged.
Henrik Birnbaum, Director
Russian and East European
Studies Center, UCLA