Reflections in Late Antique cities in Apulia et Calabria and in Southern Italy

This paper presents some reflections on the new identity acquired by Southern Italian cities between the 4th and the middle of the 6th century AD. The roman towns, that knew continuity of life during the Late Antique period, responded with a resilient behaviour to the effects of long-running processes such as the con- traction of public and private financial resources; the drastic limitation of the role and decision-making power of the ancient urban curiae; the progressive concentration of the peripheral power management functions in a few selected centres.