The Early State and the Towns. Forms of Integration in Lombard Italy, AD 568-774

Abstract: This disstertation is a study of the foundations of the early state of Lombard Italy, AD 568-774. The main issue of the work is the hypothetical integration of social sectors within the context of an early state, as opposed to alternative forms of integration. the possibilities of achieving this kind of integration is regarded as connected with the urban infrastructure. The chief analysis consists of a thorough investigation of the institutional functions of the towns, accompanied by a survey of the discussions of the socio-economic centrality of these towns. The conclusion of the study is that the early state in Lombard Italy reached a comparatively high level of military and juridical integration of society and partly controlled the ecclesiastical system. The basis for this was not taxation but land, or rather the control of landed resources. This was achieved by control of the towns. The Italian towns were socio-economic as well as institutional centres. Neither the church nor the nobility were strong enough to control the urban world, but the early state based its existence on a network of urban dukes, gastalds, bishops, and others.