After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, when Constantinople fell into the hands of the Latin crusaders, the geography of the Byzantine Empire and that of Morea, modern Peloponnese, changed significantly. The socio-political patterns that developed during the thirteenth century had long-lasting effects on the region, even after 1460 when the Ottomans gained control. Byzantium continued to exert its power in the political and cultural spheres.
Mystras
During the fourteenth century, Byzantine Morea became the centre of intense diplomatic negotiations. The Franks, Byzantines, the counts of Athens, Venetians, Slavs, and Ottomans interacted in the region, often fighting each other. Their presence also impacted the cultural environment as evident in the remains of the urban layout, as well as the architecture and arts of Mystras, the capital of Morea.
The city
