TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Interpreting Urban Change
- mid 6th centuries and even 7th and 8th centuries still some considerable activity 0 Justinian building programme included spectacular achievements:Great Nea church at Jerusalem
- Whittow argues for prosperity of Edessa (Urfa, SE Turkey) in 6th century from large sums of gold paid to Chosroes I in AD 540 and 544 + quantities of silver when captured in AD 609. Also studies to show decline in population size from7th century onwards. Edessa does continue as an urban centre through Islamic period until Byzantine recovery in 10th century – but what does level of silver tells us about general distribution of wealth. Or urbanism. Theories that do belie urban decline – picture changing all the time as new evidence comes to light and theories have to be revised. Reliable ceramic typology of Near East is beginning to be agreed – much more regional variation than previously thought esp. Eastern provinces.
- Why generalised change (difficult to generalise across the Mediterranean)
- Plague that hits Constantinople and Asia Minor in mid sixth century and which continued to strike Syria until mid 7th century. Hard to quantify must have had an effect on thriving cities in early part of 6th century – neither epigraphic or papyrological sources offer level of mortality – so cannot date from 542, difficult not to. First instance in Europe so more serious than plagues that ravished cities at other times.
- According to sources earthquakes were frequent in 6th century – can be plausibly connected with material record – could be linked to extra chronicling of such events.
- Other external factors 0 suggested withdrawal of military resources from south-east Palestine and Arabia in early 6th century in favour of Arab alliances and tribes. Withdrawal of garrisons implies lower level of economic demand and poorer roads and communications.
- What is the role of Christianisation? Bishops disapprove of games and public baths on moral grounds, and many temples out of use or converted into churches. More churches that size warrants and continued building even when other public building stops. Bishops and church took more responsibility for social welfare – distribution of food, maintenance of hostels etc. Change in urban life significantly with Christianity – Christianisation did not directly bring about the change. Church building and influence on social practice among range of other factors converge to undermine urban topography from high Empire. Economic role of the church and shifting economic relationship between civic authorities and church. By later 6th century actual shift in resources in favour of the church – agents of took on role of providers and distributors of wealth – formerly lay with civil authorities. Role of cities identified finance, exchange, monetary circulation, collection of axes – shift had profound consequences for he future
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