This short guide to the glorious period of the Serbian medieval state – the rule of the Nemanjić dynasty (1168–1371), contains an outline of historical and cultural circumstances in medieval Serbia. The Nemanjić rulers made Serbia an independent kingdom and empire, established the autocephalous Serbian church, wrote the first literary works, were the first legislators and patrons of monasteries and churches in Serbia and beyond.
The efforts that the Nemanjić rulers built into the Serbian state and church led to the creation of authentic Serbian Orthodox tradition that helped the Serbs preserve their culture and spirituality during the centuries-long Ottoman domination. The cult of the Nemanjić kings and emperors, the majority of whom were canonised, has become a part of Serbian cultural identity.
The book contains an overview and pictures of all medieval monasteries inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a selection of the most beautiful frescoes of Serbian monasteries that provide an insight into the character of Serbian medieval society.