From Rome to Byzantium AD 363 to 565: The Transformation of Ancient Rome

by A. D. Lee

Overview

Between the deaths of the Emperors Julian (363) and Justinian (565), the Roman Empire underwent momentous changes. Most obviously, control of the west was lost to barbarian groups during the fifth century, and although parts were recovered by Justinian, the empire's centre of gravity shifted irrevocably to the east, with its focal point now the city of Constantinople. Equally important was the increasing dominance of Christianity not only in religious life, but also in politics, society and culture. Doug Lee charts these and other significant developments which contributed to the transformation of ancient Rome and its empire into Byzantium and the early medieval west. By emphasising the resilience of the east during late antiquity and the continuing vitality of urban life and the economy, this volume offers an alternative perspective to the traditional paradigm of decline and fall.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780748668359
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	01/15/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

A. D. Lee is Associate Professor in Classical Studies at the University of Nottingham

Table of Contents

List of Maps; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Series Editor’s Preface; Author’s Preface; Abbreviations; 1. The Constantinian Inheritance; Part I: The Later Fourth Century; 2. Emperors, Usurpers and Frontiers; 3. Towards a Christian Empire; 4. Old Rome, New Rome; Part II: The Long Fifth Century; 5. Generalissimos and Imperial Courts; 6. Barbarians and Romans; 7. Church and State, Piety and Power; 8. Anastasius and the Resurrection of Imperial Power; 9. Rome’s Heirs in the West; Part III: Longer-Term Trends; 10. Urban Continuity and Change; 11. Economic Patterns; Part IV: The Age of Justinian; 12. Justinian and the Roman Past; 13. Justinian and the Christian Present; 14. Justinian and the End of Antiquity; Chronology; Lists of rulers; List of bishops of Rome; A guide to further reading; Select bibliography of modern works; Index.

What People are Saying About This

University of Birmingham - Michael Whitby

This rich, clear analytical narrative of two centuries of dramatic change unravels the complexities of seismic religious transformation, major cultural realignment as well as the political and military changes that shifted Europe’s focus from Rome to Byzantium and that still influence the shape of Europe. An excellent overview of the period.

Editorial Reviews

The book has many virtues. Accuracy, as Housman remarked, is a duty not a virtue, but Lee is extremely accurate in comparison to some of his competitors. Universitystudents must surely comprise the majority of the target audience and Lee does not forget the book’s didactic purpose... A fine achievement.

Bryn Mawr Classical Review - Gavin Kelly

Lee not only provides his readers with the most up-to-date Anglophone scholarship, but also takes note of key publications in French, German and Italian, thus transcending this book's primary target audience of students — many of whom will rarely have mastered all relevant languages — and making it just as valuable for scholars... As it stands, this is the most thorough yet accessible overview of Imperial Rome's twilight centuries since Ernst Stein's Histoire du Bas-Empire. The present reviewer could think of no higher endorsement.

Acta Classica - Jeroen Wijnendaele

This rich, clear analytical narrative of two centuries of dramatic change unravels the complexities of seismic religious transformation, major cultural realignment as well as the political and military changes that shifted Europe’s focus from Rome to Byzantium and that still influence the shape of Europe. An excellent overview of the period.

University of Birmingham - Michael Whitby