The Byzantine Empire during the first centuries of its existence consisted mostly of cities that, having survived from antiquity, were strongly influenced by the spirit of the ancient world, which was reflected  in their urban structure. More than 900 cities, the largest of which was Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch, were recorded in the East in the sixth century. The leading part that the Church and central power played in the public life, as well as the form of houses, streets and squares that were among those affected by the significant changes occurring in structures and priorities of the city were the results of the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the state and the gradual Christianization of the cities.

Since the Justinianian era, and particularly after the 9th century numerous town-castles, having as their main objective to protect both the inhabitants and the borders from the enemy attacks, were built throughout the Byzantine empire. The castles were built in naturally fortified locations, on hilltops or mountaintops, from where the control of streets and passages of the mainland was ensured. On the exterior, the castles were protected by fortification walls with towers, while in their interior paths beginning at the gates of the fortress and leading to the settlement's areas were created. These streets were generally narrow, steep and paved, while their width varied depending on the available space. On both sides of the streets, houses of usually one or two-storey high and in direct contact with each other were built.

The unregulated structuring and the space constraints that characterized the byzantine city-castles resulted in the lack of large squares and designed open spaces. The available open spaces were restricted around the temples, and the enclosures of the monasteries that often functioned as areas of fairs, shopping and socialιzing. Gradually, these places became important areas of the social life in Byzantium and were the nuclei around which the neighborhoods were organized. During the late and especially the post-Byzantine period, parish churches gave their name to the neighborhoods where they were built. In all Byzantine cities, both inside and outside of the walls, monasteries were founded, which soon became centers of intellectual life acquiring considerable economic and social power.