Continuity and Discontinuity in the Post-Roman Economy
Peter Sarris
In Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and Mediterranean, 400–800, Chris Wickham provides a compelling analysis of impact fragmentation Roman Empire on state structures, social relations economic systems. Those classes regional economies that were most profoundly integrated into trans-regional imperial framework suffered greatest degree dislocation. regions period 400–800 was associated with localization weakening aristocratic power relative increase in peasant autonomy. archaeological record this process is discernible through evidence for simplification patterns production exchange, as more sophisticated exchange networks, argues, typically catalysed sustained by demand. This article suggests, however, has perhaps understated importance demographic factors shifting balance between peasants aristocrats, and, certain instances, overstates discontinuity late early medieval terms agrarian production.
Journal of Agrarian Change