Urban and rural landscape in early and middle Byzantine Attica (4th-12th c. AD)
The present study synthesiszes archaeological and historical evidence concerning Attica (Greece), the hinterland of Athens, in the Early and Middle Byzantine periods (4th-12th c.). Although the Byzantine monuments of Attica have been thoroughly studied, no coherent picture of how these relate to broader patterns of occupation and land usage has thus far been presented. In the main, the period under discussion is generally interpreted in three ways: Regarding Late Antiquity, research has often focused on the transition from paganism to Christianity, and to the characterisation of Attica as a âstronghold of paganismâ. During the so-called âDark-Agesâ, Attica is most often presented as being âdesolateâ. Regarding the Middle Byzantine period, archaeological research is dominated by architectural and art-historical study of churches. The present study presents Attica within wider trends which took place in the Byzantine Empire, and which caused its transformation in terms of demography, settlement pattern, administration, road networks, economy, defense and ecclesiastical institutions. After a detailed catalogue and interpretation of all available archaeological material, Attica appears less âexceptionalâ
Tzavella, Elissavet
CC Archaeology ; D051 Ancient History ; D111 Medieval History ; DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World ; DF Greece
Urban and rural landscape in early and middle Byzantine Attica (4th-12th c. AD). The present study synthesiszes archaeological and historical evidence concerning Attica (Greece), the hinterland of Athens, in the Early and Middle Byzantine periods (4th-12th c.). Although the Byzantine monuments of Attica have been thoroughly studied, no coherent picture of how these relate to broader patterns of occupation and land usage has thus far been presented. In the main, the period under discussion is generally interpreted in three ways: Regarding Late Antiquity, research has often focused on the transition from paganism to Christianity, and to the characterisation of Attica as a âstronghold of paganismâ. During the so-called âDark-Agesâ, Attica is most often presented as being âdesolateâ. Regarding the Middle Byzantine period, archaeological research is dominated by architectural and art-historical study of churches. The present study presents Attica within wider trends which took place in the Byzantine Empire, and which caused its transformation in terms of demography, settlement pattern, administration, road networks, economy, defense and ecclesiastical institutions. After a detailed catalogue and interpretation of all available archaeological material, Attica appears less âexceptionalâ
urban_rural landscape early_middle byzantine attica present_study archaeological_historical evidence_concern attica greece hinterland athens early middle byzantine period although byzantine monument attica thoroughly study coherent picture relate broader pattern occupation land usage thus_far present main period_discussion generally interpret way regarding late_antiquity often focused transition paganism christianity characterisation attica stronghold paganism so_called dark ages attica often present regarding middle byzantine_period archaeological dominate architectural art_historical study church present_study present attica within_wide trend take_place byzantine_empire cause transformation term demography settlement_pattern administration road_network economy defense ecclesiastical institution detailed_catalogue interpretation available_archaeological material attica appear less exceptional