Ravenna. Rise of a Late Antique Capital

Abstract

The town of Ravenna, in northern Italy, today contains eight buildings listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, all dating between the fiflh and the sixth centuries - a time when it was one of the most important cities of the Mediterranean. The Roman town under­went a major tranformation at the beginning of the fifth century, from a small Roman 'Municipium' to an Imperial capital. This role called far new buildings of power, housing the Imperial Court and the related bureaucratic body, a Bishop's Palace and other monu­ments such as the Circus. In addition city-walls, churches and others community zones were created; all following late antique models such as Milan, the previous capital, and of course Constantinople. An expansion ef Ravenna's infrastructures was also necessary, in particular new roads and sewer system, a port, warehouses, and aqueducts. From the fifth century to the Early Medieval period Ravenna flourished as one of the main centres of North Italy and during this period its archbishop played an important role in the religion, politics and economy of the region. This paper seeks to illustrate the archaeological evidence related lo the 'langue durée' of the urban center of Ravenna as a fulcrum of power and control.