A Re-Evaluation of Decline/Continuity Theories, Based on the Late Antique Laws

CEYLAN DUGGAN B.

OLBA, cilt.24, ss.535-554, 2016 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24
  • Basım Tarihi: 2016
  • Dergi Adı: OLBA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.535-554
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Late Antiquity, Codex Theodosianus, decline, continuity, urban architecture, built environment
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The recent studies on Late Antique Period, through which Roman Empire experienced significant transformations, approach the subject by two major theories: "decline" which can be defined as fall of the empire after an arduous period of weakening; and "continuity" which substitutes decline with transformation and postpones the fall to a considerably later date. The evidence for decline is evident in the numerous literary sources in form of hagiographia, historia and codices. On the opposing side, the scholars advocating the continuity support their theories with the archaeological evidence.