Le società post-romane in Occidente e Oriente. Storici a confronto per una nuova ‘grande narrazione'

The article aims to present a review-discussion upon recent monographs that contributes to a new common ‘great narrative’ about Early Middle Ages and the transformation of the Roman world in the West and in the East. The main contribution comes from Chris Wickham, but I will take into account, among others, Jean-Pierre Devroey and John Haldon’s works. I will present an historical narrative focused on the forms of state funding and the relationships between state and social fabric, with a special regard for elites, shedding light on social and economic changes, meeting points and differencies among the political and territorial bodies of the early medieval Mediterranean.