Author Description

Historical and archaeological research on Palestine during the Late Roman and Byzantine periods has concentrated on urban life. Recent studies, of which this is the latest, have focused on the rural areas. What emerges from Doron Bar's study is that the Late Roman period, until the 4th century C. E., was a central and important period for the expansion of settlement throughout Palestine. The archaeological evidence indicates that more and more areas were settled and cultivated, creating a mosaic of cities, towns, villages, rural estates, and farm houses, surrounded by cultivated fields. According to the author, the spread of Christianity played a secondary role in this process; the many churches built during this period were a result of expanding settlement and a flourishing economy.