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36 - Cities in the West

from Part III - Urbanism and the Countryside

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2025

Leonard V. Rutgers
Affiliation:
Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Neil Christie
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
Robin M. Jensen
Affiliation:
University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Jodi Magness
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Summary

The chapter examines the changing urban landscape of the western Roman Empire and its successor states from approximately 300 to 600. It explores how cities evolved in response to shifting political, economic and social conditions, analysing archaeological evidence and urban-planning trends. The chapter begins with an overview of recent developments in the field and outlines the diverse trajectories of urban centres across the region. Of central importance is the gradual transition from classical urbanism to post-classical forms, marked by the loss and reuse of monumental structures, the fortification of cities and the adaptation of existing infrastructure. Rather than depicting urban change as a straightforward decline, the chapter argues that cities underwent complex transformations, with some centres experiencing contraction while others remained vibrant. It also illustrates how elite participation, religious shifts and administrative restructuring influenced the built environment. Furthermore, attention is given to the role of city walls, which were expanded or reinforced to accommodate new defensive needs. The reuse of materials, including spolia, became a defining feature of late antique architecture. By integrating textual and material evidence, the chapter provides a nuanced perspective on how cities adapted to the challenges of Late Antiquity, maintaining their significance despite profound structural changes.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • Cities in the West
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535113.009
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  • Cities in the West
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535113.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Cities in the West
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535113.009
Available formats
×