Technology in Transition A.D. 300-650

This book is the first general work to be published on technology in Late Antiquity. It seeks to survey aspects of the technology of the period and to respond to questions about technological continuity, stagnation and decline. The book opens with a comprehensive bibliographic essay that provides an overview of relevant literature. The main section then explores technologies in agriculture, production (metal, ceramics and glass), engineering and building. Papers draw on both archaeological and textual sources, and on analogies with medieval and early modern technologies. Reference is made not only to the periods which preceded it, but to the transition to the Early Middle Ages and to the technological heritage of Late Antiquity to the Islamic world. Several papers focus on Italy, whilst others consider North Africa, Asia Minor, and the Near-East.

Luke Lavan is Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Kent, Canterbury. His doctorate (Nottingham 2001) considered Provincial Capitals in Late Antiquity. He has edited conference volumes on late antique urbanism, the countryside and historical methodology, and is series editor of Late Antique Archaeology.

Enrico Zanini is Senior Lecturer in Methodology of Archaeological Research at the University of Siena. His research interests are focused on Byzantine Archaeology in Italy and the Mediterranean basin, involving excavations in the ‘Byzantine Quarter’ of Gortyn, Crete. He has authored Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina (Roma 1994) and Le Italie bizantine (Bari 1998).

Alexander Sarantis works for the Central Administration (Business Services and Projects Division) of the University of Oxford. His Ph.D. (Oxford 2006) explored The Balkans during the Reign of Justinian and he has recently authored articles on A.H.M. Jones and the Gepids. His interests focus on the East Roman provinces and imperial relations with the barbarian peoples within and beyond them.