The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine

by Noel Lenski (Editor)

Overview

The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine offers students a comprehensive one-volume survey of this pivotal emperor and his times. Richly illustrated and designed as a readable survey accessible to all audiences, it also achieves a level of scholarly sophistication and a freshness of interpretation that will be welcomed by the experts. The volume is divided into five sections that examine political history, religion, social and economic history, art, and foreign relations during the reign of Constantine, who steered the Roman Empire on a course parallel with his own personal development. Each chapter examines the intimate interplay between emperor and empire, and between a powerful personality and his world. Collectively, they show how both were mutually affected in ways that shaped the world of Late Antiquity and even affect our own world today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781139816861
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/14/2005
Series:	Cambridge Companions to the Ancient World
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Noel Lenski is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A specialist in the history of Late Antiquity, he is the author of numerous articles on military, political, cultural and social history, and the monograph Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century AD.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; Contributors; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Introduction Noel Lenski; 1. Sources for the history of Constantine Bruno Bleckmann; Part I. Politics and Personalities: 2. Before Constantine Simon Corcoran; 3. The reign of Constantine Noel Lenski; 4. The dynasty of Constantine down to 363 Robert M. Frakes; Part II. Religion and Spiritual Life: 5. The impact of Constantine on Christianity H. A. Drake; 6. The beginnings of Christianization Mark Edwards; 7. Traditional religion A. D. Lee; Part III. Law and Society: 8. Bureaucracy and government Christopher Kelly; 9. Civil law and social life Caroline Humfress; 10. Economy and society Georges Depeyrot; Part IV. Art and Culture: 11. Perspectives in art Jaś Elsner; 12. Architecture of Empire Mark J. Johnson; 13. Constantine in legendary literature Samuel N. C. Lieu; Part V. Empire and Beyond: 14. Warfare and the military Hugh Elton; 15. Constantine and the Northern barbarians Michael Kulikowski; 16. Constantine and the peoples of the Eastern Frontier Elizabeth Key Fowden; Appendices; Maps; Primary sources and translations; Secondary bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'This Companion is an introduction to the study of the history of the Roman emperor Constantine. Sixteen international contributors wrote articles in their special fields for this book … There is an extensive bibliography with primary sources and translations and secondary sources with citations in various languages.' American Reference Books Annual

'This book is chock-full of information and interpretation and is a welcome addition to libraries and to scholars' bookshelves.' Michael Heintz, Religious Studies Review

'Complete with black and white photographic illustration, fully referenced chapters, a timeline, maps of the empire, a list of primary sources and translations as well as a full bibliography, this revised edition presents an ancient world united by politics and personality, an interplay that continues to resonate in the present day.' Louise Ellis-Barrett, Reference Reviews

From the Publisher