Blurb:

The Norman period marks a progressive transformation of Sicilian society. The new monarchy, which on certain levels maintained or developed many elements of the Arab government of the island, was not able (especially in the second half of the 12th century) to guarantee a happy balance between the new Latin-Christian immigrants and the ‘autochthonous’ natives and farmers (these of course a mix of diverse cultural roots). But this was a period also of new building and urban redesign, marked by castles, cathedrals and monasteries.