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The invasions of the Turks after the battle of [[Manzikert]] in [[1071]] and the ensuing civil wars largely passed the region by, and Athens continued its provincial existence unharmed. When the Byzantine Empire was rescued by the resolute leadership of the three [[Komnenos]] emperors [[Alexios I Komnenos|Alexios]], [[John II Komnenos|John]] and [[Manuel I Komnenos|Manuel]], Attica and the rest of Greece prospered. Archaeological evidence tells us that the mediaeval town experienced a period of rapid and sustained growth, starting in the eleventh century and continuing until the end of the twelfth century. The agora or marketplace, which had been deserted since late antiquity, began to be built over, and soon the town became an important centre for the production of soaps and dyes. The growth of the town attracted the [[Venice|Venetians]], and various other traders who frequented the ports of the Aegean, to Athens. This interest in trade appears to have further increased the economic prosperity of the town.
The 11th and 12th centuries were the Golden Age of [[Byzantine art]] in Athens. Almost all of the most important Byzantine churches around Athens were built during these two centuries, and this reflects the growth of the town in general. However, this medieval prosperity was not to last. During the period of 1204 AD to 1458 AD Athens was fought over by the Byzantines, the French, and Italian knights of the [[Latin Empire]]. In 1204, French Crusaders captured the city and a bell tower was added to the Parthenon. The French knights of the de la Roche family gained the title [[Duchy of Athens|Duke of Athens]]. In 1311, the city fell to the revlting mercenaries of the [[Catalan
==Ottoman Athens==
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