The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian

Introduces the Age of Justinian, the last Roman century and the flowering of Byzantine culture.

Michael Maas (Edited by)

9780521520713, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 April 2005

672 pages, 50 b/w illus.
23 x 15.3 x 4 cm, 1.095 kg

'… with this volume, a collection of contributions from well-known specialists, we now have an exhaustive and up-to-date compendium of the sixth century … this volume offers a competent introduction to the reign of one of the most important Roman emperors and its circumstances.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

This book introduces the Age of Justinian, the last Roman century and the first flowering of Byzantine culture. Dominated by the policies and personality of emperor Justinian I (527–565), this period of grand achievements and far-reaching failures witnessed the transformation of the Mediterranean world. In this volume, twenty specialists explore the most important aspects of the age including the mechanics and theory of empire, warfare, urbanism, and economy. It also discusses the impact of the great plague, the codification of Roman law, and the many religious upheavals taking place at the time. Consideration is given to imperial relations with the papacy, northern barbarians, the Persians, and other eastern peoples, shedding new light on a dramatic and highly significant historical period.

1. The age of Justinian and its legacy Michael Maas
2. Economy and administration: how did the Empire work? John Haldon
3. Political theory in the Christian-Roman state Charles Pazdernik
4. The Empire at war A. D. Lee
5. Justinian and the barbarian kingdoms Walter Pohl
6. The churches of Italy and Imperial authority during the reign of Justinian Claire Sotinel
7. Relations with Persia and the East Geoffrey Greatrex
8. The background to Islam Fred M. Donner
9. Jews in the Age of Justinian Nicholas de Lange
10. The plague and the Mediterranean Peregrine Horden
11. Gender and the transformation of the social world Leslie Brubaker
12. Classical cities in the sixth century: survival and transformation Kenneth G. Holum
13. Constantinople in the Age of Justinian Brian Croke
14. Did they practice law 'by the book' in the Age of Justinian? Caroline Humfress
15. The legacy of Chalcedon: Christological problems and their significance Patrick Gray
16. Christian piety and practice Derek Krueger
17. Art and architecture Joseph Alchermes
18. Literature and patronage in the Age of Justinian Claudia Rapp
19. Philosophy in the Age of Justinian: the nature of the cosmos Christian Wildberg.

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], History [HB]