The Cities of the Plain: Urbanism in Ancient Western Thessaly

This book explores urbanism in Antiquity, focusing on the area of western Thessaly in central Greece, from the mid-4th century BCE to the early 2nd century BCE. It outlines and discusses the origins, development, and decline of urbanism in the region, with at least 25 identified contemporaneous cities spread over the area. The sites were generally short-lived, but some survived as smaller regional centres under the Roman administration. The study shows that the rise and fall of urbanism reflected changes in regional and supra-regional political organisation and exemplifies the political nature of the pre-Industrial city and its synthetic role in agrarian societies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Oxbow Books

This captivating book delves into the realm of urbanism in Antiquity, specifically focusing on the region of western Thessaly in central Greece. Through a comprehensive archaeological approach, it presents a wealth of evidence for ancient urban sites in the area, outlining their origins, development, and eventual decline.

The archaeological evidence reveals that urban sites in western Thessaly emerged during the mid-4th century BCE, with a minimum of 25 identified contemporaneous cities scattered across the region. These cities were meticulously planned and organized from the very beginning, featuring regular street grids, robust fortification systems, and efficient water supply works. However, it is noteworthy that these cities had a relatively short lifespan, typically lasting only five to six generations. By the early 2nd century BCE, most of these sites had been abandoned as settlements, often with signs of violent destruction. Only a handful of these cities managed to survive as smaller regional centers under the Roman administration.

Towards the end of Antiquity, particularly in the first half of the 6th century CE, there were efforts to restore and re-occupy these former urban sites. However, the re-occupation was once again short-lived, with only three cities surviving into the Middle Ages. From a regional perspective, this study highlights that the rise and fall of urbanism itself did not result in significant socio-political disruptions. Rather, it reflects changes in regional and supra-regional political organization.

On a global scale, this book serves as an exemplar of the political nature of the pre-Industrial city, its synthetic rather than organic role in agrarian societies, and the cyclic nature of urbanity throughout history. The book is accompanied by an extensive catalogue that provides detailed information about each site, including photographs, topographical sketches, and comprehensive bibliographies.

Weight: 708g
Dimension: 279 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789259926