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1. Describe the historical or cultural conflicts that affected the use of icons during your time period? 

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1. Describe the historical or cultural conflicts that affected the use of icons during your time period? 

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- During the Medieval Balkan time period there were a lot of invasions from Barbarians and Slav immigrants who would often destroy and devastate towns. As a result many painters from towns that have been destroyed began moving to Constantinople in which many of these artists began to paint icons for churches and monasteries. The move to Constantinople by many artists created an art boom for a while in the Balkan states.
- Barbarians and Invaders would often destroy icons in Churches of towns that were going to be destroyed or devastated.
- But also during this time period the Balkans had an increase in economic properties which led to more monuments being created, and thus more icons being produced.
- Despite increase in economic properties, Balkan's were still making tenuous economic and cultural progress; Icons were the only thing allowing them to progress since so many people loved and adored icons.
- Unfortunately the art boom which was discussed earlier, would be set back by the conquest of the Ottoman Turks.

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2. Describe the developments in the art of iconography during your time period. 

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2. Describe the developments in the art of iconography during your time period. 

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- Since most of the icon painting was done in Constantinople, there was a variety of precious pigments for use during this period. With these variety of pigments artists during this time were able to experiment with different color styles: Festive colors, bright colors, mute colors, etc.
- Many paintings during this time period also used classical forms as well in their paintings, and paintings such as, the large icon of the annunciation at upper left, often mirrored classic styles.
- During this time period there was an emphasis on technique. Nothing like it before emphasized the importance of taking time and precision to create a masterful icon. This is very showing of the type of dedication many artists of this time period had towards icons, and the willingness to show their faith during dark times.

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3. How might the images of the icons reflect the faith of Christians who lived during this time period? 

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3. How might the images of the icons reflect the faith of Christians who lived during this time period? 

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- With the rise of such schools like the Serbian schools, there was an increase in realism, muted range colors, and a monumental style in icons.
- Despite the use of some dark styles, there was also an increase in inspiration and technique; Figures in icons were often excessively modeled.
- This shows that many Christians during this time period were obviously going through some hardships, and were having a tough time dealing with all the horrors going on around them.
- But what the increase in inspiration and technique show is that these Christians still had faith and hope, and were willing to put in the effort to maintain their icons. This shows that because the Christians loved to preserve and keep their icons, they were doing the same with their faith.

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4. Select an icon that was written down during your time period. Describe the subjects and details of the icon. 

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4. Select an icon that was written down during your time period. Describe the subjects and details of the icon. 

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- The icon I selected depicts a picture of Jesus, and his followers. There is also three soldiers, it seems like, in which one is kneeling before him, one is protecting him from the final one who is trying to attack him.
- This icon really does draw from Medieval Balkan art style: mute colors, emphasis on the figures, and it looks like there was a lot of time put into it (emphasis on technique).
- What I believe this picture is trying to depict is that since the three soldiers have different colors, they are symbolizing different empires.
- The blue kneeling one, and the supporters might represent the Balkan States, who are in a constant struggle to preserve their cities and towns from Barbarian destruction/Ottoman destruction. The kneeling is supposed to depict how the Balkan states are trying to get help from God and Jesus.
- The orange soldier might represent Greece, who are the only source of protection that the Balkans have. Greece which controls Constantinople, is the only place were many Balkan people can move and preserve what is left of their faith in that something good will happen. That's why the soldier is protecting Christ from the red soldier.
-  The red soldier might represent the Ottoman's who are not only trying to take control of the Balkan States, but also in the process destroy what the Balkans believe in and worship. Hence why the red soldier is trying to attack Christ; He wants to destroy what is left of the Balkans faith.

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Interesting Video on the history of the Balkans

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Interesting Video on the history of the Balkans

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This video highlights how the Balkan region changes, and which empires take control of it. It's a timeline map which changes as the years go up, and what's interesting about it is the increase presence of the Ottoman Empire in the region. They were of course the empire who stopped the art boom of the Medieval Balkan States, and it's interesting to see them gain and kick out the empires that were there.

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History of the Balkans - Every year (1000 - 2016)

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MUSIC (I DO NOT OWN THE MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO,THE AUTHORS ARE CREDITED IN THE VIDEO AND DOWN BELOW): Loki - Victory The Balkan Peninsula and the Balkans is a peninsula and a cultural area in Southeast Europe with different and disputed borders.[1] The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch from the east of Serbia to the Black Sea at the east of Bulgaria.