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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Geography > Introduction to Urban Space

• Space is crucial in thinking about culture and ideology because it is where ideology and culture take on physical existence and representation
• Classical cities – status of curiales, or governing councils of towns, shown before 6th century in form of public monuments. Amphitheatres, baths etc. Ideology of civic responsibility.
• Traditionally 5th to 8th centuries seen as a decline of the classical city (value judgement???) – these monuments fall into disrepair, temples destroyed, public space used for private estates
• Simeoni describes early medieval city as “Squalid; buildings falling down and abandoned outside and inside the walls, the ancient monuments partly robbed and flanked by the miserable constructions of the barbarians”
• Why this change? Pirenne thesis sees it as an economic collapse resulting from Islamic penetrations. Hodges and Whitehouse see it as a “general entropy of social and economic life”
• However, Cristina La Rocca (Verona, Italy) uses traditional signals of de-urbanisation not for anarchic abandon but deliberate rearrangement of or urban space. She has uncovered evidence of old Roman monuments being readapted between 7th and 10th centuries – not abandoned but privatises.
• Chris Wickham suggests new investment strategies of new leaders. They prefer fine clothes to good brick
• Ideological element – onset Christianity focus of giving, not civil but religious. Thus the wealthy invest in churches, monasteries, old people’s homes instead of civic monuments. New ideology crucial in changing use of urban space. Combination social, economic, political factors – ideology very important.

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