Readings in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook

ISBN-13: 9780415473361 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 528 str.

Michael Maas

Opis

Late Antiquity (ca. 250-650) witnessed the transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages in the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds. Christianity displaced polytheism over a wide area, offering new definitions of identity and community. The Roman Empire collapsed in Western Europe to be replaced by new "Germanic" kingdoms. In the East, Byzantium emerged, while the Persian Empire reached its apogee and collapsed. Arab armies carrying the banner of Islam reshaped the political map and brought the late antique era to a close. This sourcebook illustrates the dramatic political, social and religious transformations of Late Antiquity through the words of the men and women who experienced them. Drawing from Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Coptic, Persian, Arabic and Armenian sources, the carefully chosen passages illuminate the lives of emperors, abbesses, aristocrats, slaves, children, barbarian chieftains, and saints. The Roman Empire is kept at the centre of the discussion, with chapters devoted to its government, cities, army, law, medicine, domestic life, philosophy, Christianity, polytheism, and Jews. Further chapters deal with the peoples who surrounded the Roman state: Persians, Huns, northern "Germanic" barbarians, and the followers of Islam. This revised and updated second edition provides an expanded view of Late Antiquity with a new chapter on domestic life, as well extra material throughout, including passages that appear for the first time in English translation. Readings in Late Antiquity is the only sourcebook that covers such a wide range of topics over the full breadth of the late antique period.

Late Antiquity witnessed the transformation of the ancient Mediterranean and near eastern worlds. This book illustrates the dramatic political, social and religious changes of Late Antiquity through the words of the men and women who experienced them. The collection draws from Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Coptic, Persian, Arabic and Armenian sources. The Roman Empire is kept at the centre of discussion, with chapters devoted to government, society, army, law, medicine, philosophy, Christianity, polytheism and Jews.

The carefully selected sources present a comprehensive insight into the lives of emperors, abbesses, aristocrats, slaves, and saints who left a vivid record of their experiences. Extra material on domestic life, the ‘fall’ of the western provinces, apocalyptic thought in the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions and coverage of the successor kingdoms and the rise of Islam is included, providing an expanded view of Late Antiquity. With new translations, images and a glossary this volume supplies all the sources needed for study of Late Antiquity.

Recenzje

'Readings in Late Antiquity (a sizeable re-edition of an already substantial volume) is a veritable mine of bite-size and more chunky passages and extracts from a wide range of sources' – Dr Neil Christie, Journal of Medieval Archaeology

O autorze

Michael Maas is Professor of History and Classical Studies at Rice University, USA, where he teaches ancient history. His research focuses on Late Antiquity. His most recent books are The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (2005) and Exegesis in the Early Byzantine Mediterranean (2003).