From Rome to Byzantium

from the second century). From the late fourth century this pattern changes once again, with a steady influx of eastern Mediterranean amphorae (Classes 43--46) into the west, dominating the trade across the whole of the Mediterranean (and into the Atlantic) until the seventh century. The exception to this seems to be North Africa and Italy, with African amphorae and their contents continuing to dominate the regional market in North Africa and also continuing to appear in large quantities in Italy, for example at Vibo Valentia, southern Italy, where eastern Mediterranean amphorae are rare but significant numbers of African amphorae are found into the seventh century. However, not even Carthage was immune, with eastern Mediterranean amphorae being found there from the late fourth century into the seventh century, something which tends to confirm the impression gained from the African Red Slip Ware industry that the Vandal conquest did not greatly disrupt trade, with eastern imports actually increasing through