Economy, Society, and the Church

Roman cities underwent significant transformations between the 4th and 6th centuries, marked by population decline, urban shrinkage, and repurposing of public spaces. While Western cities like Carthage shrank to mere hundreds of inhabitants, Eastern cities such as Constantinople remained large. A notable exception was Iustiniana Prima, built by Emperor Justinian around 530 in Serbia, which abandoned traditional Roman urban layouts in favor of a church-dominated center. This shift reflects broader societal changes, including the rise of the Church and the abandonment or repurposing of public buildings for economic activities, such as olive presses. Burials within central areas further disrupted earlier urban structures, signaling profound shifts in society during this transitional period.

Raffensperger, C., & Curta, F. (2025). Economy, Society, and the Church. Medieval Europe 250-1450, 19–32. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003376477-4