Political Landscapes in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages: The Iberian Northwest in the Context of Southern Europe

Abstract

This book analyses the formation and dynamics of political landscapes in the early Middle Ages. The aim is to check how political action shaped these landscapes through the study of settlements and burials, “central places” (churches, castles, buildings) and territories. A noteworthy feature was the emergence of new patterns, often linked to the growing autonomy of local societies. The concept of “micropolitics” provides a better understanding of the wide range of situations determined by the initiative of local notables and communities, embedded in overarching powers. The framework of the study is north-western Iberia, including the comparison to other regions of Southern Europe.