The Byzantine Neighbourhood: Urban Space and Political Action

The Byzantine Neighbourhood adopts a neighborhood perspective to explore the spatial and social practices of Byzantine cities, examining how varieties of collectivity translated into political action and regional factors that shaped local communities' ties to the state. It contributes to broader discussions of premodern urbanism by highlighting the spatial dimension of social life and the involvement of multiple agents in city-making.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Byzantine Neighbourhood presents a fresh perspective on Byzantine cities by adopting a neighborhood lens. This comprehensive study delves into the spatial and social practices that shaped Byzantine notions of community and facilitated dynamic interactions between diverse actors, including elites and non-elites. Authors also examine neighborhoods as political entities, exploring how different forms of collectivity emerged in Byzantine neighborhoods and translated into political actions. By recognizing the unique status of Constantinople and giving due consideration to the diverse experiences of provincial communities, the contributors explore regional factors (social, economic, and political) that interconnected local communities with the state and shed light on the mechanisms of empire.

Furthermore, this volume extends beyond its Byzantine confines and contributes to broader discussions of premodern urbanism by emphasizing the spatial dimension of social life and highlighting the involvement of multiple agents in city-making. Through its multidisciplinary approach, The Byzantine Neighbourhood offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of urban societies and their interactions with the broader political and social landscapes of the early Middle Ages.

Weight: 531g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138371064