REHABILITATING THE GREAT ESTATE: ARISTOCRATIC PROPERTY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE LATE ANTIQUE EAST
Peter Sarris
This article argues that recent emphasis on late antique economic expansion in the eastern Mediterranean and prosperity of peasantry East Roman empire has led historians to underestimate importance great estates owned by members imperial service aristocracy. tendency been exacerbated misleading testimony early Byzantine saints’ lives, an assumption were inherently autarchic economically regressive. Rather, evidence papyri legislation colonate would suggest such highly commodified monetised enterprises contributed growth.
Late Antique Archaeology