engleski

The transformation of Adriatic islands from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages

The communities living on Adriatic islands needed to adapt to processes that had an impact on settlement patterns during the long time span from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages: the Romanization of Dalmatia, from the first century A.D. ; the great migrations in the fifth ; the Gothic wars in the first half of the sixth ; the incursion of Avars and Slavs at the beginning of the seventh ; and finally the clash of two superpowers—Byzantium and the Carolingian empire at the end of the eighth century. In Late Antiquity some of the Roman towns became bishoprics, and most of the villae continued to be inhabited and had churches built within them. During the Gothic wars some of the villae were fortified ; the towns rebuilt their defensive walls. A huge number of castra was built, protecting the maritime routes. After the Avar and Slav incursions the islands on the northern Adriatic were not much affected, but on the islands of Central Dalmatia the decline of towns is visible, as well as ruralization, and the abandonment of settlements. The last impact resulted from the Carolingian expansion towards southeastern Europe. The end of Late Antiquity and the beginning of the Early Middle Ages were marked by forming new frontiers between the empires, involving the islands.

historical landscape, Late Antiquity, early middle ages, Adriatic islands

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