The Historians of Late AntiquityThe fourth and fifth centuries AD were an era of religious conflict, political change and military conflict. The responses of contemporary historians to these turbulent times reflect their diverse backgrounds - Christian and pagan, writing in both Greek and Latin, documenting church and state. This volume is the first to offer an accessible survey of the lives and works of these varied figures. The first half of the book explores the structure, style, purpose and nature of their writings. The second half compares and contrasts the information the historians provide, and the views they express on some central topics. These range from historiography, government and religion to barbarian invasions, and the controversial emperors Julian 'The Apostate' and Theodosius. |
Contents
Aurelius Victor | |
Eutropius | |
Festus | |
Eunapius | |
Theodoret | |
Orosius | |
Historiography | |
Government | |
The Roman Past | |
Religion | |
Barbarians | |
The Emperor Julian The Apostate | |
Olympiodorus | |
Priscus | |
Rufinus | |
Socrates | |
Sozomen | |
The Emperor Theodosius I The Great | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
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Common terms and phrases
Adrianople Alexandria Ammianus Marcellinus ancient Antioch Arian army Ataulf Athanasius attempt Attila Augustine Augustus Aurelius barbarians Barnes battle bishop blame Blockley Caesar Christian church historians claims classical Constantinople Constantius Constantius II contemporary critical death defeat demonstrates describes digressions divine east eastern Ecclesiastical History emperor emphasizes Eunapius eunuch Eusebius Eutropius evidence example favorable Festus fourth century fragments Gaul Gothic Goths Greek heretics historiography homoousian Hunnic Huns imperial invasion Jerome Jews John John’s Jovian Julian killed king late antique late antique historians Latin letter Libanius Matthews Maximinus Maximus military monks narrative Olympiodorus Onegesius original Orosius pagan perhaps persecution Persian philosopher Photius portrays praise Priscus provides reader reference reign religious republican Res Gestae reveals rhetoric Roman empire Rome Rufinus says senate Shapur Socrates soldiers sources Sozomen success suggests temple Theodoret Theodosius Theodosius II traditional translation Ursicinus usurper Valens Valentinian Valentinian III Victor western writing Zosimus