Decline?
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•        Economic improvements dictated later regrowth of cities too (N Sea trading – W recovered when Car linked up with Abbasid caliphate and imported silver – but this far removed from classical model).

•        Survival through C7 nadir enabled by church support (Verhulst) – belonging to civitas a constant unitary factor (James on France – here counts also important).

•        Evidence that cities still provided useful focal points = urban violence: still a stage for conflict between govt and popn (esp Co – e.g. Nika revolt 532). Violence against unstable background > revolutionary uprisings. Circus factions. Just urban dialogue. Civic authorities provided for and yet controlled city life.

•        Liebeschutz: urban vitality – popn growth, intake of foreigners, organization of trades into guilds, monopoly legislation.

•        Index of how cultural élites wished / were obliged to spend their money.

•        AC = cult form linked to stable circumstances and state intervention / taxation system – adaptation then collapse.

•        Better dubbed ‘urban change’ – general contraction and shifts in topography from C6.

•        ‘New cities’ in North were commercial / industrial centres in their own right.

•        Kennedy – same for Damascus / Aleppo – increased urban vitality. Also Emesa (Life of Symeon C6). Built environment adapted for different purposes / lifestyles.

Other Notes in this Category

1. Christianity
2. Decline?
3. Economy
4. Ideological retreat into private sphere?
5. Political Instabilities

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