Ancient History & Civilisation

A History of the Later Roman Empire, AD 284 - AD 641: The Transformation of the Ancient World

A History of the Later Roman Empire, AD 284 - AD 641: The Transformation of the Ancient World

This book presents a historical study of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity from the accession of the emperor Diocletian 284 to the death of the emperor Heraclius in 641.

  • The only modern study to cover the western and eastern empire and the entire period from 284 to 641 in a single volume
  • A bibliographical survey supports further study and research
  • Includes chronological tables, maps, and charts of important information help to orient the reader
  • Discusses the upheaval and change caused by the spread of Christianity and the barbarian invasions of the Huns, Goths and Franks
  • Contains thematic coverage of the politics, religion, economy and society of the late Roman state
  • Gives a full narrative of political and military events
  • Discusses the sources for the period

Abbreviations

Chapter 1. An Introduction to Late Roman History

Chapter 2. The Nature of the Evidence

The Problem of Christian Sources

Hagiography

Panegyrics

The Secular Historians

The Church Historians

The Legal and Administrative Sources

Letter Collections

Inscriptions

The Material World

Notes

Chapter 3. The Roman Empire from Diocletian to Alaric

Prelude

A Military Monarchy 284–395: Overview

The Age of Diocletian and Constantine

The Emergence of Constantine

The Successors of Constantine

Julian

Valentinian and Valens

A Changing World

Theodosius I

Stilicho and Alaric

The Goths in Constantinople

Notes

Chapter 4. The Roman Empire of the Fifth and Sixth Centuries

Preface

The Reign of Theodosius II

The Western Empire and the Barbarians 411–455

Marcian and Leo

The Fall of the Western Empire

Zeno and Odoacar

Anastasius

The War with Persia

Justin

Justinian: The Years of Ambition

War on the Eastern Front

The Nika Riot

The Reconquest of the West: Africa

The Invasion of Italy

Notes

Chapter 5. The Roman State

The Anatomy of the Empire

Propaganda and Ideology

Military Security

Ruling the Empire

Social and Cultural Transformations

Notes

Chapter 6. The Barbarian Kingdoms

The Origins of the Germanic Kingdoms of the West

The Huns

The Germanic Kingdoms of Western Europe in the Fifth Century

The Visigoths

The Burgundians

The Franks

Ostrogothic Italy

Notes

Chapter 7. From Pagan to Christian

Religious Pluralism in Late Antiquity

Christian Diversity

Christianity and the State: Outlawry and Tolerance

Notes

Chapter 8. Conversion to Christianity and the Politics of Religious Identity

Three Conversions and their Consequences

Constantine

Julian

Augustine

Politics and Christianity

Religious Identities

Notes

Chapter 9. The Political Economy of the Later Roman Empire

Rome

Constantinople

Alexandria

Carthage

Antioch

Notes

Chapter 10. Society and Economy in the Mediterranean and the Near East

The Eastern Empire

Egypt

The Western Empire

Conclusions

Notes

Chapter 11. The Challenges of the Later Sixth Century

The Bubonic Plague and Other Natural Catastrophes

Setbacks and Recovery in the Mid-Sixth Century

The Challenge of the Sassanians

Notes

Chapter 12. The Final Reckoning of the Eastern Empire

The Northern Barbarians in the Sixth Century

The Fall of Maurice

The Last Great War of Antiquity

Religious Transformations

The Coming of Islam

Notes

Chapter 13. The Fall of the Roman Empire

Taxation and Diminishing State Revenue

The Loss of Military Capacity

Demographic Regression and Plague in Late Antiquity

The Afterlife of Ancient Rome

Notes

Bibliography

Chronological List of Emperors and Other Rulers

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