Streets

As one of the main features of a city, streets are far from immune to the change going on around them; rather, they change form along with cities. In late antiquity most of the cities in the empire had adopted the renowned Hippodamian plan. However, new imperial period cities were designed along the lines of Roman army camps. They had two main thoroughfares, perpendicular to each other but aligned with the four points of the compass: the decumanus maximus running East-West; and the cardo heading North-South. Both began from the city centre, where the forum (market) was, and ended at gates in the walls. They were lined on both sides by arcades that housed shops and workshops.
 
From the end of the 6^th century onwards cities gradually fell into decline, leading to the collapse of urban life and changes in the appearance of the urban landscape. Cities shrank in size, and their form and function changed radically. In between the houses, the old town plan mapped onto the new one solely with regard to the main road network. Some cities preserved the system of intersecting main avenues, while others used only the old high street, with smaller, narrower streets leading onto it.
 
Middle and late Byzantium cities had few main roads and several side-streets, with houses and courtyards built on either side. Since drainage systems were not very well maintained, the streets were usually in a sorry state: potholes, mud, manure and rubbish were the order of the day.

At the same time, new settlements known as castle cities were founded on naturally fortified sites. The streets followed the lie of the land, and were generally narrow, steep, and rarely straight. Cobbled and of varying width depending on the available space, they were often cul-de-sacs serving as passageways between densely built houses. Due to the steep incline, streets were often punctuated by flights of steps, thus precluding the use of wheeled vehicles.

It remains unclear whether the building regulations that applied in Constantinople were at any time enforced throughout the empire, or whether the provisions in Armenopoulos’ Hexabiblos were applied in provincial towns. That apart, it is worth noting that the fledgling Greek State kept the Hexabiblos provisions in force until the first General Building Regulations were established.

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