Vedi La città bizantina tra il V e il IX secolo: le prospettive storiografiche

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Firenze University Press

Estratto da Reti Medievali Rivista, IX - 2008

<http://www.retimedievali.it>

La città bizantina tra il V e il IX secolo:

le prospettive storiografiche

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La città bizantina tra il V e il IX secolo:

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problème des subsistances3DULVH&0DQJRLe développement urbain de Constantinople (VIe_-VIIe_{siècles), Paris 1985.}

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questa autolimitazione, ovvero la proposta al lettore di una semplice passeg-giata “mussorgskyiana” tra i Quadri di una esposizione quasi del tutto trascu-rata o ignotrascu-rata nel panorama accademico italiano, quale quella concernente il SUREOHPDGHOODFLWWjEL]DQWLQDQHLFRVLGGHWWLDark Ages (in particolare, come si YHGUjQHOFRUVRGLTXHVWDUDVVHJQDLO9,,HO¶9,,,VHFRORqVWDWDGHOLEHUDWD,Q YHULWjDQFKHODVWHVVDFURQRORJLDVFHOWDSRWUHEEHFDXVDUHSHUSOHVVLWjRRELH]LR-QL6Lq³SXQWDWR´VXTXHVWDFRQJLXQWXUDSHUFKpLQTXHVWRSHULRGRLOFRQFHWWR O¶LGHD H OH VWHVVH IXQ]LRQL XUEDQH VXELVFRQR GHL GUDVWLFL PXWDPHQWL H ULSHQ-samenti che, necessariamente, vanno legati agli articolati esiti regionali delle ³VRYUDVWUXWWXUH´XUEDQHLQUDSSRUWRDOODFDQJLDQWH³VWUXWWXUD´LPSHULDOH/H LQYDVLRQLDYDURVODYHSHUVLDQHHDUDEHLOFUHVFHQWHVHQWLPHQWRGLLQVLFXUH]-za, il nuovo ruolo assunto dalla metropoli costantinopolitana, la disarticola-]LRQHGHLPRGHOOLWUDGL]LRQDOLGLVFDPELRHULGLVWULEX]LRQHGHLEHQLVLDDOLYHOOR LQWUDUHJLRQDOHVLDPHGLWHUUDQHRHLQ¿QHODULOHYDQ]DSROLWLFDVRFLDOHHFXO-WXUDOHDVVXQWDGDOODUHOLJLRQHFULVWLDQDFRQWULEXLVFRQRLQIDWWLDGLSLQJHUHLQ TXHVW¶HSRFDXQTXDGURYDULHJDWRHLQQRYDWLYRGHOO¶XUEDQHVLPREL]DQWLQR 2. 6WRULRJUD¿DGHOODFLWWjEL]DQWLQD 2.1. Continuità e discontinuità ,OWUDGL]LRQDOHGLEDWWLWRVXOGHVWLQRGHOOHFLWWjQHOO¶DOWRPHGLRHYR ha sem- SUHDYXWRTXDOHSXQWRGLSDUWHQ]DO¶LGHDGLLOOXVWUDUHHGLPRVWUDUHODFRQWLQXL-WjRDOFRQWUDULRODGLVFRQWLQXLWjGHOODFLWWjQHOODVXDIRUPDFODVVLFDRYYHUR della polisJUHFRURPDQDGXUDQWHLOPHGLRHYR7DOHSROHPLFDVWRULRJUD¿FDq sintetizzata nelle opere di due dei suoi iniziatori, Alexander Kazdhan e George Ostrogorsky3_{,O SULPR LQIDWWL VRWWROLQHDYD FRPH OD FLWWj ± RYYHUR OD polis}

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3HUXQDSLHVDXVWLYDDQDOLVLGHOO¶DUJRPHQWRULPDQGRLOOHWWRUHDOPLROLEURGLSURVVLPDSXEEOL-cazione: L. Zavagno, Cities in Transition: Urbanism in Byzantium Between Late Antiquity and

the Early Middle Ages, edito per i tipi della British Archaeological Reports-International Series.

3 _{G. Ostrogorsky, Byzantine Cities in the early Middle AgesLQ©'XPEDUWRQ2DNV3DSHUVª}

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(1954), pp. 164-188.

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6 _{Recent Research in Late-Antique Urbanism (Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary}

Series 42), a cura di L. Lavan, Portsmouth-Rhode Island 2001, pp. 138-145. Alla tavola rotonda

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,QWDOVHQVR-RQHVSURSRQH-va una vera e propria concezione teleologica GHOODSDUDERODVWRULFDGHOODFLWWj DQWLFD FKH VL LQWHUUXSSH EUXVFDPHQWH DOOD ¿QH GHO 9, VHFROR TXDQGR OD SULQ-cipale caratteristica della polisJUHFDRYYHURO¶DXWRQRPLDSROLWLFDVFRPSDUYH D IURQWH GHL FUHVFHQWL SRWHUL GHOOR 6WDWR H GHL VXRL JRYHUQDWRUL ©DV WKH ORFDO councils (curiaeORVWWKHLUULFKHVWDQGPRVWHQWHUSULVLQJPHPEHUVZKHWKHU WKURXJKJHQXLQHSRYHUW\RUWKURXJKWKHODFNRISXEOLFVSLULWDVWKHLUUHYHQXHV were curtailed, and as civic patriotism decayed, cities lost vitality and initiati-YHª12_{&RPHVLYHGUjLQVHJXLWRTXHVWRDSSURFFLR³FRQVHUYDWRUH´qDQFRUDRJJL} ORQWDQRGDOO¶DYHUHSHUVRLOSURSULRappealVWRULRJUD¿FRFRQVLGHUDWRFKHVWRULFL FRPH:ROIJDQJ/LHEHVFKXHW]H+HOHQ6DUDGLQHGHQXQFLDQRLQGLUHWWDPHQWH O¶LQÀXHQ]DTXDQGRGHOLQHDQROHSURSULHWHRULHVXOO¶XUEDQHVLPREL]DQWLQRLQGH-FOLQR/¶LPSRVWD]LRQHMRQHVLDQDLQROWUHHUDSULQFLSDOPHQWHEDVDWDVXOO¶DQDOLVL GHOOHIRQWLGRFXPHQWDULHHVXOOHSRFKHULVRUVHPDWHULDOLGLVSRQLELOLSULQFLSDO-PHQWHGLQDWXUDQXPLVPDWLFDHGHSLJUD¿FD©0\PRVWODPHQWDEOHJDSLVWKH archaeological material, since I have not read the excavations reports on late 5RPDQVLWHVª13 ,QIDWWLEHQFKpDOFXQHIRQWLPDWHULDOLIRVVHURVWDWHSUHVHLQFRQ-VLGHUD]LRQHVLQGDJOLDOERULGHOGLEDWWLWRVXOODFLWWjEL]DQWLQDHVVHULPDQHYDQR SHUORSLOLPLWDWHDLUHSHUWLPRQHWDULVSHVVRULWURYDPHQWLVWUDWLJUD¿FDPHQWH GHFRQWHVWXDOL]]DWLHDOOHLVFUL]LRQLVHPSUHSLUDUHGDO9,VHFRORLQSRLGH-terminando, de factoODPDUJLQDOL]]D]LRQHGHOUXRORGHOO¶DUFKHRORJLDLQDPELWR XUEDQR/HGLI¿FROWjLQHUHQWLDOODULFHUFDDUFKHRORJLFDQHJOLDQQL&LQTXDQWDH 6HVVDQWDYHQQHURHI¿FDFHPHQWHULDVVXQWHGD'LHWULFK&ODXGHQHOLOTXDOH FRQFOXGHYDFKHVHEEHQHJOLVFDYLXUEDQLFRVWLWXLVVHURXQ¶LPSRUWDQWHIRQWHGL VWDUWHGLQWKHWKLUGVFHQWXU\SURFHHGLQJVWHDGLO\GXULQJDOOWKH%\]DQWLQHSHULRGª6LYHGDDQFKH $+0-RQHVThe Greek City from Alexander to Justinian2[IRUG

8_{-RQHVCities of the Eastern Roman ProvincesFLWS;,9}

9_{:%UDQGHVDie Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrundert, Berlin 1989, pp. 12-13.}

10_{$+0 -RQHV The Later Roman Empire 284-602. A social, economic and administrative}

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11_{-RQHVThe Greek City cit., pp. 30 sgg.}

12_{-RQHVThe Later Roman Empire 284-602 FLWS%LVRJQDWXWWDYLDDPPHWWHUHFKH-RQHV}

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Later Roman Empire 284-602 cit., p. 761.

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19_{+DOGRQ Byzantium in the Seventh Century FLW SS -) +DOGRQ The Idea of the}

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20_{-5XVVHOTransformation in Early Byzantine Urban Life: the Contributions and Limitations}

of Archaeological Evidence, in The 17th International Byzantine Congress (Major Papers) 1986,

:DVKLQJWRQSSVJJ,QWDOVHQVRVLYHGDDQFKH-36RGLQLLa contribution de

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(1993), pp. 139-184.

21 _{Russel, Transformation in Early Byzantine Urban Life cit., p. 140. Foss, The Persians in Asia}

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2[IRUGSS

26_{$'L9LWDGortina di Creta. Archeologia e storia di una città antica, Atene 2000.}

27_{(=DQLQL(*LRUJLIndagini archeologiche nell’area del “quartiere bizantino” di Gortina:}

prima indagine preliminare (campagna 2002), in «Annuario della Scuola archeologica italiana

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29_{+DOGRQByzantium in the Seventh Century cit., p. 94 e nota 4.}

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SS)RVVLife in City and Country cit.

31 _{Foss, Dead cities cit.}

32 _{Foss, Life in City and Country cit., p. 95.} 33 _{Foss, Syria in transition cit.}

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Successors A.D. 425-600,&DPEULGJHS

35_{-36RGLQLArchaeology and Late Antique Social Structure, in Theory and Practice in Late}

Antique ArchaeologyDFXUDGL//DYDQH:%RZGHQ/HLGHQ%RVWRQSS

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39_{-)+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas of Byzantine History, New York 2005, pp. 32-44.} 40_{+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit.}

41_{,QSDUWLFRODUHVLYHGDQR-+:*/LHEHVFKXHW]Administration and Politics in the cities of}

the 5th_{and 6}th_{centuries with special reference to the circus factions, in /D¿QGHODFLWpDQWLTXH}

HWOHGpEXWGHODFLWpPpGLpYDOH'HOD¿QGX,,,eme_{à l’avènement de Charles Magne. Actes du}

FROORTXHWHQXjO¶8QLYHUVLWpGH3DULV;1DQWHUUHDFXUDGL&/HSHOOH\%DULSS -+:*/LHEHVFKXHW]Administration and Politics in the cities of the 5th_{to the mid-7}th

centu-ries, in Cambridge Ancient History;,9 Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors A.D. 425-600,

&DPEULGJHSS-+:*/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall of the Roman City2[IRUG ,QROWUHLQTXHVWDSURSHWWLYDSDUWLFRODUPHQWHXWLOLVRQRDQFKH-+:*/LHEHVFKXHW]The

end of the ancient city, in The City in Late AntiquityDFXUDGL-5LFK/RQGRQ1HZ<RUN

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(1988), pp. 25-49.

/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., p. 29.

42_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit.}

43_{-RQHVThe Greek City FLW6LYHGDDQFKH'XQQThe transition from polis to kastron cit., pp.}

67-68.

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45_{+DOGRQThe Idea of the Town cit., p. 12.}

46_{6LYHGDQRWUDJOLDOWUL/%UXEDNHU-)+DOGRQByzantium in the Iconoclast Era (ca.}

680-850): the Sources. An annotated Survey$OGHUVKRW%UDQGHVDie Stadte KleinasiensFLW

Brandes, Byzantine Cities cit., Russel, Transformation in Early Byzantine Urban LifeFLW6RGLQL

La contribution cit.

47 _{Brandes, Byzantine CitiesFLW+DOGRQThe Idea of the TownFLW-)+DOGRQByzantium. A}

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51_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., pp. 1-2.} 52_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., pp. 7 sgg.}

53 _{O. Figes, A People’s Tragedy. The Russian Revolution 1895-1924, London 1997.} 54_{:DUG3HUNLQVThe Cities cit., p. 377.}

55_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit.}

56_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., p. 401.} 57_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Administration and Politics cit.}

58_{(3DWODJHDQPauvreté économique et pauvreté sociale à Byzance, 4}e_-7e_{siècles3DULV3}

(13)

GH¿QLVFH©IDWWRUHFROOHJLDOHªcollegiality factor)59_{, quanto sul piano pratico} GRYHVWULGHODODWLWDQ]DGHOOHHYLGHQ]HDUFKHRORJLFKHGHLFRQWHVWLVWUDWLJUD¿FL GHOODQXPLVPDWLFDGHOODVLJLOORJUD¿DGHOODFHUDPRORJLDHFF,QROWUHO¶LQWHU- SUHWD]LRQHGDWDGD/LHEHVFKXHW]DLULVXOWDWLGHOOHFDPSDJQHGLVFDYRDUFKHROR-JLFRDSSDUHVSHVVRIXRUYLDQWHO¶XVRGHJOLarchaelogical reportsqVXERUGLQD-WRDOO¶LGHDFKHOHFLWWjQHOODVHFRQGDPHWjGHO9,VHFRORVLFDUDWWHUL]]LQRSHUOD VFRPSDUVDGHOODPRQXPHQWDOLWjXUEDQD e il declino dello stereotipo “classico” GHOODFLWWjDQWLFD60_{. Rimane, tuttavia, mia opinione che tale concezione}

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300-900&DPEULJH0DVVS

60_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., pp. 28-102.} 61_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., p. 414.} 62 _{Saradi, The Byzantine City cit.}

63 _{Saradi, The Byzantine City cit., pp. 148-352.}

64 _{Saradi, The Byzantine City FLWS©7KHDQFLHQWHYHUJHWLVPGHULYHGIURPDQFLHQWZD\RI}

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65 _{Saradi, The Byzantine City cit., pp. 49-146 e pp. 353-470.} 66 _{Saradi, The Byzantine City cit., pp. 156-157.}

(14)

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&RQVHJXHQWHPHQWHDSSDUHFKLDURFRPHLOSDHVDJJLRXPDQRHVWUXWWXUDOHGHO-68_{:DUG3HUNLQVThe Cities cit., p. 410.}

69_{&:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages. Europe and Mediterranean 400-8002[IRUG}

2005, pp. 609-613. Si veda anche Alston, The City in Roman and Byzantine Egypt cit., pp. 130 sgg.

70_{+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit., p. 34.}

71_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., pp. 110 sgg.} 72_{:DUG3HUNLQVThe Cities cit., pp. 377-378.}

73_{1 &KULVWLH, From Constantine to Charlemagne. An Archaeology of Italy A.D. 300-800,}

Aldershot 2006, p. 268.

(15)

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75_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., p. 414.}

76_{0+HQG\Economy and State in Late Rome and Early Byzantium: an Introduction, in The}

Economy, Fiscal Administration and Coinage of Byzantium, Northampton 1989, p. 22.

77_{+DOGRQ Byzantium. A History FLW S 6L YHGD DQFKH 6 &RVHQWLQR 3ROLWLFD H ¿VFDOLWj}

nell’Italia bizantina (secc. VI-VIII), in Le città italiane tra la tarda Antichità e l’alto Medioevo

cit., pp. 37-54.

78_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., p. 401.} 79_{+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit., p. 41.}

(16)

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80_{+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit.}

81_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall FLWSS6DUDGLThe Byzantine City cit., pp. 288 sgg.} 82_{0:KLWWRZThe Making of Orthodox Byzantium (600-1025), Basingstoke 1996.} 83_{:DUG3HUNLQVThe Cities cit., p. 381.}

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(17)

3. Superare la dicotomia, partendo dagli studi regionali (ovvero: lo Stato,

motore della persistenza urbana)

3.1. Modelli regionali: Italia e Asia minore

Appare dunque evidente come la prospettiva dicotomica, che ha rivelato ODSURSULDLQDGHJXDWH]]DDVSLHJDUHOHRULJLQLO¶HVVHQ]DOHIXQ]LRQDOLWjHLYD-ULHJDWLDVSHWWLDVVXQWLGDLFRQWHVWLXUEDQLLQXQHSRFDGLPXWDPHQWR86_{, tenda}

QHFHVVDULDPHQWHDLQDULGLUVL,QWDOVHQVRQXRYLHGLIIHUHQWLRULHQWDPHQWLKDQ-QRFDUDWWHUL]]DWRODULFHUFDLQWHPSLSLUHFHQWLPHWWHQGRLQHYLGHQ]DLVLQJROL comparti regionali attraverso la piena considerazione degli esiti degli scavi e dei

surveys archeologici. In questo senso gli studi di Zanini87_{, incentrati sui}

carat-WHULSHFXOLDULGHOOHYDULHDUHHGHOODSHQLVRODLWDOLDQDULPDVWHWUD9,H9,,VHFROR VRWWRODGRPLQD]LRQHEL]DQWLQDUDSSUHVHQWDQRDQFKHSHUO¶HI¿FDFHFRPELQDUVL GLIRQWLDUFKHRORJLFKHHGRFXPHQWDULHXQFRQWULEXWRGL LQHOXGLELOHLPSRUWDQ- ]D,PSRUWDQ]DLPSXWDELOHWDQWRDOUXRORFHQWUDOHDWWULEXLWRDOOH³,WDOLHEL]DQ-WLQH´ GD VHPSUH FRQVLGHUDWH SHULIHULFKH GDOOD VWRULRJUD¿D HUXGLWD88_{, quanto}

DOO¶DQDOLVLGHOODFRPSOHVVLWjGHOUXRORIXQ]LRQDOHGHOOHFLWWj=DQLQLLQYHURUL-FRQRVFHFRPHODSHQLVRODQHOSDVVDJJLRGDOODWDUGDDQWLFKLWjDOO¶DOWRPHGLRHYR QRQIRVVHSXQWHJJLDWDXQLFDPHQWHGDkastra: le dinamiche della riorganizza-]LRQHDPPLQLVWUDWLYDHWHUULWRULDOHQHOO¶,WDOLDEL]DQWLQDHUDQRLQIDWWLPROWRSL FRPSOHVVH7DOLGLQDPLFKHVHEEHQHLQFDUGLQDWHSULQFLSDOPHQWHVXOELVRJQRGL SURWH]LRQHGHLFHQWULLQVHGLDWLYLDVVXPHYDQRFRQQRWD]LRQLGLIIHUHQWLFKHVLLQ-FDUQDYDQRWDQWRQHOODPLOLWDUL]]D]LRQHGHOODVRFLHWj89_{TXDQWRQHOO¶LPSRUWDQ]D}

GHJOLDYDPSRVWLIRUWL¿FDWLTXDQWRLQ¿QHQHOUXRORHVVHQ]LDOHFKHOHFLWWjFRQ-tinuavano a rivestire sia quali centri politico-amministrativi e religiosi90_{, sia}

TXDOLHOHPHQWLVWUDWHJLFLGHOORUJDQL]]D]LRQHGLIHQVLYDWHUULWRULDOH

8QXOWHULRUHHVHPSLRLQTXHVWDFDWHJRULDGLVWXGL³UHJLRQDOL´qUDSSUHVHQ-WDWRGDOWHVWRGL:ROIUDP%UDQGHVVXOOHFLWWjG¶$VLD0LQRUHIUDLO9,,HO¶9,,, VHFRORLQFXLO¶DXWRUHWHQWDGLHQXFOHDUHXQFRQFHWWRBegriff GLFLWWjDWWUD-YHUVRXQDHVDXVWLYDDQDOLVLGHOO¶LQWHURFDPSLRQDULRGLIRQWLVFULWWHGDWDELOLWUD LO 9, H O¶9,,, VHFROR91_{. In tal modo egli delinea tanto le origini e le linee di}

sviluppo del termine kastron (de facto smentendo la semplicistica teoria di una involuzione delle polis in kastra)92_{, quanto i tratti di una ricerca sulla}

86_{6LYHGD-)+DOGRQSome considerations on Byzantine society and Economy in the Seventh}

transizione in tale periodo.

87_{(=DQLQLIntroduzione all’archeologia bizantina5RPD(=DQLQLLe Italie bizantine.}

Territorio, insediamenti ed economia nella provincia bizantina d’Italia (VI-VIII sec.), Bari 1998.

88_{%DVWL SHQVDUH FKH OH GXH SL LPSRUWDQWL VLQWHVL UHFHQWL GL VWRULD EL]DQWLQD ± TXDOL O¶Oxford}

History of ByzantiumDFXUDGL&0DQJR2[IRUGHThe Economic History of Byzantium

FLW±QRQGHGLFDQRFKHSRFKLVVLPHULJKHDOFRQWHVWRLWDOLDQR

89 _{Zanini, Le Italie bizantine cit., p. 32.}

90 _{Su questo recentemente anche P. Arthur, Alcune considerazioni sulla natura delle città}

bizan-tine, in Le città italiane tra la tarda Antichità e l’alto Medioevo cit., pp. 27-36.

91 _{Arthur, Alcune considerazioni cit., pp. 28-44.}

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WHUPLQRORJLD XWLOL]]DWD GDOOH IRQWL DUDEH UHODWLYH DO PRQGR EL]DQWLQR93_{. Tale}

SURVSHWWLYDPHWRGRORJLFDYLHQHPHJOLRDGHOLQHDUVLLQXQDOWURFRQWULEXWRGHO-lo studioso tedesco94_{, dove egli estrinseca le precauzioni da adottarsi quando}

FLVLDFFRVWDDOOHIRQWLOHWWHUDULH&RVuDGHVHPSLRULVXOWDFKHODWHUPLQRORJLD ecclesiastica95_{può determinare}96_{©DXVH>RI@WKHWHUPpolisWRUHIHUWRYLUWXDOO\}

HYHU\(SLVFRSDOVHDW>DELVKRSULF@ZDVE\LWVYHU\QDWXUHDpolis, as is made FOHDULQDODZGHFUHHGE\WKH(PSHURU=HQR&-,ª97_.

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PDL ULVFRQWUDELOH QHOOD VWRULRJUD¿D ³FRQVHUYDWULFH´ DQFKH VH /LHEHVFKXHW] sviluppa delle sezioni a carattere regionale)100

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3.2. Wickham e Haldon tra regioni e impero

$PLRDYYLVRTXHVWHUDJLRQLYDQQRULFHUFDWHSURSULRQHOODSHFXOLDULWjGHOOH SDUDEROHXUEDQHHQWURLVLQJROLFRQWHVWLUHJLRQDOLRVXEUHJLRQDOL103_{: si}

deli-Raum von der Antike zum MittelalterLQ©*\PQDVLXPªSS*5DYHJQDQL &DVWHOOLHFLWWjIRUWL¿FDWHQHO9,VHFROR5DYHQQD7(*UHJRU\Kastro and Diateichisma as Responses to early Byzantine Frontier CollapseLQ©%\]DQWLRQªSS'XQQ The transition from polis to kastron cit.

93 _{Brandes, Die Städte Kleinasiens cit., p. 42.} 94 _{Brandes, Byzantine Cities cit.}

95 _{Liste di presenza nei concili ecumenici, le cosiddette Notitiae Episcopatuum, i canoni e la}

OHWWHUDWXUDDJLRJUD¿FD

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97 _{Brandes, Byzantine CitiesFLWS%UDQGHVDie Städte Kleinasiens cit., p. 23.} 98 _{Brandes, Byzantine Cities cit., p. 26.}

99

&LzqOHJDWRDOOHGLIIHUHQ]HGLQDWXUDUHJLRQDOHFKHULJXDUGDQRJOLLQVHGLDPHQWLXUEDQLLQUHOD-]LRQHDOODYDULHWjGLHYHQWLVWRULFLFKHFDUDWWHUL]]DURQROHVLQJROHDUHHGHOO¶LPSHUR

100_{/LHEHVFKXHW]Decline and Fall cit., pp. 30 sgg.} 101 _{Brandes, Die Städte Kleinasiens cit., pp. 81-131.}

102_{/¶DSSURFFLRUHJLRQDOHDGRWWDWRGD:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., si rivela in}

questo senso molto utile.

(19)

QHDQRFRVuVLQJROLPRGHOOLG¶XUEDQHVLPRFKHFRPHVLQJROHWHVVHUHFRPSRQ-gono il quadro di un variegato mosaico su scala imperiale, senza dimenticare ODUHOD]LRQHIUDODPXWDQWHVRYUDVWUXWWXUDLPSHULDOHHODFLWWj7DOHUHOD]LRQH qVWDWDUHFHQWHPHQWHDQDOL]]DWDGDGXHVWXGLRVLTXDOL&KULV:LFNKDPH-RKQ +DOGRQ104_{LTXDOLKDQQRWHQWDWRGLSUHVHQWDUHODWUDVIRUPD]LRQHGHOOD³FLWWj}

EL]DQWLQD´DOODOXFHGLXQDQXRYDSURVSHWWLYDFKHFRQVLGHUDJOLVYLOXSSLDOXQJR WHUPLQHGHOFRQWHVWRXUEDQRHODVXDPXWHYROHULOHYDQ]DIXQ]LRQDOHHQWUROD cornice delle relazioni sociali ed economiche nel periodo tardo antico.

7KHFUXFLDOSRLQWLVTXLWHVLPSO\WKDWWKH%\]DQWLQHµFLW\¶ZDVGLIIHUHQWIURPLWVFODVVLF DQWHFHGHQWVEHFDXVHLWQRORQJHUIXO¿OVWKHVDPHUROHHLWKHULQWKHVRFLDOIRUPDWLRQDV ZKROHRULQWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDSSDUDWXVRIWKHVWDWH:LWKLQWKLVJHQHUDOFRQWH[W WKHQLWVHHPVHQWLUHO\UHDVRQDEOHWKDWZHVKRXOGH[SHFWWKHFRQWLQXHGRFFXSDWLRQLI RQ D VPDOOHU VFDOH RI VRPH VLWHV WKH DEDQGRQPHQW RI RWKHUV DQG HYHQ IRU VSHFL¿F UHDVRQVWKHSUHVHUYDWLRQRIFHUWDLQFLWLHVZLWKLQWKHLURULJLQDOOLPLWVUDUHWKRXJKWKLV PLJKWEH105. 6HSHUFLzGDXQODWRORVWHVVRSDHVDJJLRXUEDQRYHQQHDPXWDUHFLzULV-SHFFKLzLOSURIRQGRFDPELDPHQWRGHOORVWLOHGLYLWDFLWWDGLQRSURIRQGDPHQWH LQÀXHQ]DWRGDOODFRPSDJLQHVWDWDOHHQRQFDJLRQzODULGX]LRQHGHOOHDWWLYLWj HFRQRPLFKHHGHOO¶LQWHUVFDPELRFRPPHUFLDOH106_. 7KHKLVWRULFDOFRQWH[WLVSURYLGHGE\WKHORQJWHUPDQGFRPSOH[SURFHVVRIHURVLRQRI WKHVRFLDODQGHFRQRPLFQHWZRUNVZKLFKVXSSRUWHGWKHFLW\DVDXWRQRPRXVDQGVHOI± JRYHUQLQJERG\«7KLVSURFHVVLQFOXGHGDQLQFUHDVLQJLQWHUYHQWLRQLVPRQWKHSDUW RIWKHVWDWHLQFLYLFDGPLQLVWUDWLRQHVSHFLDOO\LQUHVSHFWRI¿VFDOVWUXFWXUHVRQWKHRQH KDQGDQGWKHFRQFRPLWDQWHURVLRQRIWKHSRVLWLRQRIWKHPLGGOHDQGORZHUOHYHOVRIWKH curial strata, on the other107.

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LQROWUH XQD UHDOH FRPSUHQVLRQH GHO SURFHVVR GL IRUPD]LRQH GHOOH VWUXWWXUH sociali quale esito dei rapporti di produzione ed evidenziando, al contempo, ODVWUXWWXUDHFRQRPLFDGHOODVRFLHWjHQWURFXLLFRQWHVWLSROLWLFLOHJDOLLGHROR-gici (ma anche culturali) sono inseriti e con cui essi si relazionano109_,QIDWWL

FRPH:LFNKDPDIIHUPDEHQSRFKHFLWWjFUHEEHURTXDOLFHQWULHFRQRPLFLVHQ-HQWLWjXUEDQDQRQSRWUHEEHHVVHUHFRPSUHVRVHQRQLQUHOD]LRQHQRQVRORDOODVenetia ma anche DOO¶DUHDFRVWLHUDODJXQDUH6XTXHVWRVLYHGD*HOLFKLVenezia tra archeologia e storia cit.

104_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle AgesFLWH+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit.}

rappresen-WDQRLORURFRQWULEXWLSLUHFHQWL

105_{+DOGRQByzantium in the Seventh century cit., pp. 94-95.}

106_{-)+DOGRQ+.HQQHG\The Arab-Byzantine Frontier in the eighth and ninth centuries:}

 SS +DOGRQ Some considerations FLW +DOGRQ The Idea of the Town FLW +DOGRQByzantium. A HistoryFLWH+DOGRQThe Palgrave Atlas cit.

107_{+DOGRQThe idea of the Town cit., pp. 1-2.}

108

3HUODFLWWjLQWHVDFRPHFRPSRQHQWHIXQ]LRQDOHLQWHJUDOHGLXQVLVWHPDFRPSOHVVLYRGLUHOD-]LRQLHFRQRPLFKHVLYHGDQR+DOGRQ.HQQHG\The Arab-Byzantine Frontier cit. H+DOGRQSome

considerations cit.

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za alcun apporto esterno (da parte imperiale o statale)110

,QROWUHOHFLWWjGL-pendevano anche dal potere (in parte sociale, in parte politico) di acquisto delle elitesDULVWRFUDWLFKH:LFNKDPFRQFOXGHSHUFLzFKHODSUHGLOH]LRQHGHOOH

élitesXUEDQHEL]DQWLQHSHUXQRVWLOHGLYLWDXUEDQRIXO¶HVLWRGLXQDVFHOWDYR-ORQWDULD©ZKHQDULVWRFUDWVOLYHGLQFLWLHVWKXVXQGHUSLQQLQJDUHODWLYHXUEDQ VXUYLYDOWKH\GLGVREHFDXVHWKRVHFLWLHVZHUHVWLOOLPSRUWDQWDGPLQLVWUDWLYH FHQWUHVª111

,QTXHVWRVHQVRDIIHUPD+DOGRQDSSDUHHYLGHQWHFKHODGLFRWR-PLD FRQWLQXLWjGLVFRQWLQXLWj QRQ FRQGXFH D QXOOD VH QRQ YLHQH LQVHULWD QHO contesto del sistema economico e politico tardo antico:

7KHFRQWLQXHGSK\VLFDOH[LVWHQFHDQGRFFXSDWLRQRIXUEDQVLWHVWHOOVXVOLWWOHDERXWWKH changes in economic and social relations which developed during the seventh century DQGDIWHU7KHEXLOGLQJRIFLW\IRUWL¿FDWLRQWKHGLVDSSHDUDQFHRIH[WUD±PXUDOXUEDQ VXEXUEVDQGWKHUHGXFWLRQLQVL]HRIXUEDQVHWWOHPHQWVLVRQO\WREHH[SHFWHGLQWKH FRQGLWLRQVSUHYDLOLQJLQWKHVHYHQWKFHQWXU\7KDWWKHVHXUEDQVHWWOHPHQWVFRQWLQXHG WRH[LVWLQDSK\VLFDOIRUPVKRZVRQO\WKDWSDUWRIWKHORFDOSRSXODWLRQFRQWLQXHG WRUHJDUGDGHIHQGHGDUHDDVVDIHUWKDQWKHRSHQFRXQWU\VLGHIRUWL¿HGVHWWOHPHQWV continued to act as administrative and ecclesiastical centres112.

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mu-WDPHQWRVLPDQLIHVWDURQRJLjGXUDQWHLO9VHFROR117_{FRQWULEXHQGRDVSLHJDUHLO}

GHVWLQRGHOODFLWWjFRPHRUJDQLVPRFRRSHUDWLYRHGHOOHFODVVLGLULJHQWLXUEDQH (curiales). Nonostante le valutazioni economiche, che incoraggiano a conside-UDUHODFLWWjTXDOHFHQWURGLFRQVXPRqVRSUDWWXWWRXQDGH¿QL]LRQHVRFLRORJLFD che emerge da questo approccio analitico118_{,QWDOJXLVDODFLWWjGLYLHQHWDQWR}

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110_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., p. 594.} 111_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., pp. 594-595.} 112_{+DOGRQ.HQQHG\The Arab-Byzantine Frontier cit., p. 87.} 113_{+DOGRQSome considerations cit., p. 99.}

10 (1985), pp. 1-38.

115_{+DOGRQSome considerationsFLW+DOGRQByzantium. A HistoryFLWH0:KLWWRZRuling}

(1990), pp. 3-29.

VKHOWHUWRERWKSHRSOHDQGWKHLUSRVVHVVLRQVDQGSURYLGHGLQDGGLWLRQXVHIXOEDVHVIRUDGPLQLVWUDWL-YHRI¿FLDOV´7KLVSLFWXUHLVRIFRXUVHUDWKHUJHQHUDOLVHGDQGOHDYHVRXWWKHODUJHUHPSRULDDQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYHFHQWUHVRIWKHHPSLUHª+DOGRQ.HQQHG\The Arab-Byzantine Frontier cit., p. 92.

117_{+DOGRQSome considerations cit., p. 99.} 118_{+DOGRQThe Idea of the Town cit.}

(21)

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3.3. Walmsley e Spieser: tra case studies regionali e modelli di

trasformazione urbana

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119_{:LFNKDP Framing the early Middle Ages FLW S +DOGRQ Byzantium in the Seventh}

Century cit., pp. 99 sgg.

120_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., pp. 598 sgg.} 121_{+DOGRQByzantium in the Seventh Century cit., p. 98.}

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123_{+DOGRQByzantium in the Seventh Century cit., p. 124.} 124_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., p. 616.} 125_{:LFNKDPFraming the early Middle Ages cit., p. 671.}