In 400 the mighty Roman Empire was almost as large as it had ever been; within three centuries, advances by Germanic peoples in western Europe, Slavs in eastern Europe and Arabs around the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean had brought about the loss of most of its territory. Ranging from Britain to Mesopotamia, this book explores the changes that resulted from these movements. It shows the different paths away from the classical past that were taken, and how the relatively unified civilization of the ancient Mediterranean gave place to the very different civilizations that cluster around the sea today.

This comprehensive and authoritative second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated line-by-line, and contains several new sections dealing for instance with the new evidence provided by recent finds like the Staffordshire Treasure and the widespread effects of the plague. As well as a completely new bibliographical essay, The Roman Empire Divided now also includes six maps and an expanded selection of illustrations fully integrated in the text.

Autorentext

John Moorhead is Professor Emeritus at the University of Queensland and Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. His books include Theoderic in Italy (1993) and Gregory the Great (2005). He is currently working on a major study of the Roman church in late antiquity.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements Preface to the first edition Preface to the second edition List of illustrations Maps Introduction 1. The Empire 2. The western Mediterranean till the mid-sixth century 3. From Gaul to France 4. From Britain to England 5. The western Mediterranean post-Justinian 6. South of the Danube 7. The East to 661 8. The East from 661 9. Systems great and small Notes Bibliography Index