ON THE SETTLEMENT COMPLEX OF CENTRAL GREECE: AN EARLY NINETEENTH-CENTURY TESTIMONY.

This text presents the settlement complex of Central Greece (mainly Boetia, Fthiotida, Magnesia, Larissa) in the first years of the nineteenth century, as attested in Argyris Philippidis' work, Mϵρικὴ Γϵω γραϕíα [Partial geography]. In total, Philippidis recorded 232 settlements, in a credible manner, as demonstrated by comparison with information from other sources of the period. The examination of this data reveals the very strong presence of mainly Christian settlements of small dimensions, not exceeding 100 homes, located at relatively low elevations. Also notable is the presence of a few cities exceeding 1000 homes of largely Muslim population, as well as "islets" of settlements with Muslim or mixed populations in flatlands. The settlement complex was supported by monasteries, berths, bazaars and inns, which constituted functional components of the financial activities. This text is part of a study being conducted at the Institute for Neohellenic Research concerning the history of settlements in Greece (fifteenth- twentieth centuries). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]