TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Settlement and Population Change
- What deep and long term changes already taking place in demographic structure of eas- relation of town to country before 7th century invasions. Progressive reliance by Eastern government on Arab phylarchs not in cities but desert palaces.
- High density of certain settlements in fifth and early sixth centuries Palestine, Golan especially Negev evidence of viticulture olive growing etc material evidence of irrigation etc. Settlements seems to market and administrative centres for the surrounding countryside from surrounding land dotted with villages. Not real urban centres of late classical model.
- Amount of mosaic patterns in churches and synagogues show level of investment in buildings, if not prosperity. Large city of Scythopolis (Bet Shean) shows no sign of declining until earthquake in 749 Arabic and Greek shows modus vivendi with Arabs of Umayyad period. Widespread evidence of population growth, development of towns, increased levels of cultivation and irrigation.
- From 7th century seems to be a decline effects of plague, civil war under Phocas and later invasions take toll + higher degree of emigration to the West. Preludes any question of military investment with prosperity 0 how the demographic increase itself to be explained.
- Long distance trade and caravan trade may have had some effect. Case of Imru al-Qays shows role played by Christianisation in Byzantine diplomacy.
- Administration and institutions placed an overlay of Greek on local conditions - Greek not really language of outsiders. Spectacular development of Syriac literature , Semitic culture being represented since AD 106 complex culture mosaic. Arab dynasty ruled Edessa seen in reliefs and mosaics, also produced 3rd century Syriac inscriptions. Culture of near east in last antiquity fascinating mosaic only interpreted by reference to local differentiation. Matching modern notions of Arab, Syrian, Semitic and other terms are still entangled in a mesh of confusion and even prejudice.
- Heightened by readiness of local areas to proclaim local traditions Syrian examples of ascetic Christians. Emphasise religious complexities of the region before the Arab conquests
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