The field of my scientific interest is the Late Antiquity. From my point of view this period can attract attention of explorers by its heterogeneous nature which is observed in all social life areas. We can see Christianity living simultaneously with Greco-Roman paganism, the Empire to be renewed by efforts of Diocletian and Constantine the Great, numerous of barbarian kingdoms, the new system of Roman law created by Justinian’s lawyers and traces of customary law which uses in different parts of the Empire (for example the Syrian-Roman code) etc. It is the transitional time from the Ancient world to the Medieval time, and due to this reason it’s interesting for me.

         Now I want to tell you a little about the present topic of my research. I have an interest in history of urban tradition in Syria from the late Roman time to the Arabian conquest. Why? I can call myself an urbanist and I treat city as one of essential features of civilisation. Late Antique Syria gives me a good possibility to learn this phenomenon. There were a lot of cities with beautiful buildings, affluent culture and economic development.

         It should be noted cities in Syria were a visible reason of stability of social life in the region under the Roman ruling.

         First of all I consider communities in the cities. It is necessary to grasp the ways of relationship between them and the Empire and features of their economic structure.

         Then I would note the ability of these cities to survive in spite of different natural influences. For example, according to archaeological materials from Scythopolis, the plague and earthquake did not lead to the cessation of active construction in the city.

         Religion side of the life is of interest too. Places and meaning of old pagan centres were substituted by new importance. Amman was a city where was located eminent temple of Hercules. In 550 A.D. Christian church was built there, its ruin can be seen today in the Amman fortress.

         Unfortunately I stand today on start of my scholars activity and it’s difficult to me give a quality answers on all questions of my topic. I believe it would be more expertly after few years.

         Among the sources to my work I can note followings. Codes of legislation contain information respecting economics and politics in the cities. One more class of sources are theological works of Church Fathers. For instance John Chrysostom lists in his “Against Jewry and Greeks” different ranks of people in the region. So called “Church histories” describes therewith not only its history. I take into account the archaeological data too. In addition I consider inscriptions and coins as additional sources in my work.