Medieval Serbia

In this episode, we explore Serbia in the Middle Ages, tracing its development from the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century to the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century. We follow the rise of early Serbian principalities and the Vlastimirović rulers before turning to the Nemanjić dynasty, under which medieval Serbia entered a political and cultural golden age and grew into a powerful empire. The episode examines how Serbian identity was shaped by the close alliance between the monarchy and the autocephalous Orthodox Church, while also highlighting the structure of feudal society, the authority of Dušan’s Code, and an economy strengthened by agriculture and mining. By looking at both Serbia’s achievements and its eventual decline after the Battle of Kosovo, we reveal how this medieval state left a lasting legacy even as foreign conquest brought an end to its independent historical path.