Ancient Arles City Research

The Corinth in the Late Antiquity is still the political, economic and cultural center of the province of Achaea in the Greco-Roman world. Besides its great location, it sets a good example for other Mediterranean cities which combines the system in the Greco-Roman world with the increasingly sophisticated Christian system. Besides its geographical advantage, Corinth set a good example for other Mediterranean cities for it combined the ancient Greece, Roman Empire and the improving Christian system together. Through researching the Environmental evolution in Corinth, it tries to find out the reasons for the life changes.The introduction of this book is about the study of the Corinth in the Late Antiquity. Apart from the introduction and conclusion, this book mainly includes four chapters.Chapter one firstly introduces the natural landscape of the Corinth. The special location is admirable to everyone. In the past thousands of years, some elements, such as the rocks, sediments, springs, earthquakes, rain, animals and plants, provide the possibilities and limitations of the life in the isthmus. Secondly, it represents the history of urban development in the Corinth. Since the 2nd century, Corinth has become the Greek center of culture and education. It also plays an important role in commercial development of eastern Mediterranean.Chapter two analyzes the Corinth in the Late Antiquity from three aspects. Firstly, it divides the city into three geographic regions: the central city centering the square, the ancient city outside the center and the Korinthias with its surrounding areas. Through a brief introduction of the above three areas, the book illustrated landforms of various areas as well as the coincidences and vicissitudes of urban activities in different historical periods. Secondly, it reviews the period of history from two overlapped perspectives. The city has no longer been managed by the Roman. Now it is in the charge of the Christianity and the Byzantine Empire. Finally, it concludes that the Corinth encounters a series of threats including the rude alien invasions and the natural disasters, such as earthquakes and plagues.Chapter three mainly launches the elaboration from two aspects: the Corinthian infrastructure and its public buildings. In the Late Antiquity, the water supply and road system as well as the defensive walls are the symbols of the city and they all need to be protected by the people. All of these infrastructures indicate the change of the city’s authority. They are also the important evidence of the Corinthian sustainable development. In addition to the infrastructure, the public buildings perform significant social functions in the realms of culture, region, business and service. The decline these buildings are not apparent in the 3rd century, but it becomes serious in the second half of the 4th century. In the 5th to 6th century, some classic buildings have been repaired. The 7th to 9th century can be sure a decline period. All of these display the change of social life and Corinthian public space from different aspects.Chapter four deals with the development of Corinthian Christianity during the Late Antiquity. It is known to all that the region goes along with the development of the city. The early development of Christianity includes the church founded by Paul and many other churches in the 1st and 2nd century. After the conflict between heresy and Christianity in the 3rd and 4th century, there appear many religious ceremonies in the 5th century and then the Christianity becomes apparent in its power. The history of Corinthian Christianity can largely be regarded the process of becoming Christianized. The Christianity helps the city became sanctified and civilized.The conclusion sums up the researches on the Corinthian natural landscape, urban development, history, administrative management, infrastructures and the development of Christianity which provided us with basic situations of Corinth during the 3rd to 7th century and new conclusions about the city and its life. At the end of 6th century, something in the Corinth has definitely changed. The characteristics maintained for two hundred years have disappeared and the Roman buildings, economic entities and Christianity are emerging. The research about Corinth provides a special way to view the Roman social life in the Late Antiquity and it also leads to a new conclusion about the impact on Christianity in Greece. Broadly speaking, the urban transformation is only a part of the story. The beauty of studying the transformation lies in the dependence of urban subsystem on the development of the whole civilization system in the Late Antiquity and at the same time it also feeds back to the whole system.