We do know, however, that up to the end of the 11th century, village population fell. From then to the middle of the 13th century no important changes seem to have occurred. Instead, stability prevailed, a fact which has to be related to the general climate of Byzantine society in the 12th century.
Much of the Komnenean period is characterized by the striving for fair administration and the reorganization of the state. This fact provided an opportunity for development, while famines, enemy raids, earthquakes and other natural disasters are referred to much less frequently than in previous or following centuries. Contemporary sources suggest that in the early years of the Komnenoi harvests were not only in abundance but also of good quality. The pauperization of the population under the burden of taxation and the economic crisis occurred at the end of the 12th century. Before then a relatively good standard of living prevailed and population growth was steady.
An important factor in the 12th century was the settlement and increasing number of Latins within the Byzantine Empire. The sources mention 10,000 Venetians within the Byzantine Empire in 1171 and 60,000 Latins in Constantinople in 1182. These numbers are considered to be exaggerated. Venetians, Pisans and Genoese were attracted by their mercantile interests and activities to Constantinople and other cities. Many of the Latins, especially in the age of Manuel Komnenos, enjoyed special privileges and favours at the imperial court, which was often criticized by the scholars of the age who called the Westerners barbarians.