The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity (Oxford Handbooks)

The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity offers an innovative overview of a period (c. 300-700 CE) that has become increasingly central to scholarly debates over the history of western and Middle Eastern civilizations. This volume covers such pivotal events as the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the origins of Islam, and the early formation of Byzantium and the European Middle Ages. These events are set in the context of widespread literary, artistic, cultural, and religious change during the period. The geographical scope of this Handbook is unparalleled among comparable surveys of Late Antiquity; Arabia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Balkans all receive dedicated treatments, while the scope extends to the western kingdoms, and North Africa in the West. Furthermore, from economic theory and slavery to Greek and Latin poetry, Syriac and Coptic literature, sites of religious devotion, and many others, this Handbook covers a wide range of topics that will appeal to scholars from a diverse array of disciplines. The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity engages the perennially valuable questions about the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the medieval, while providing a much-needed touchstone for the study of Late Antiquity itself. A+++ Cover Page......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Preface: On the Uniqueness of Late Antiquity......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 34 List of Abbreviations......Page 37 Note on Transliteration......Page 43 Contributors......Page 45 Maps......Page 48 Introduction: Late Antique Conceptions of Late Antiquity......Page 54 Part I. Geographies and Peoples......Page 83 1. The Western Kingdoms......Page 84 2. Barbarians: Problems and Approaches......Page 120 3. The Balkans......Page 160 4. Armenia......Page 188 5. Central Asia and the Silk Road......Page 221 6. Syriac and the “Syrians”......Page 255 7. Egypt......Page 284 8. The Coptic Tradition......Page 321 9. Arabia and Ethiopia......Page 350 Part II. Literary and Philosophical Cultures......Page 462 10. Latin Poetry......Page 463 11. Greek Poetry......Page 497 12. Historiography......Page 552 13. Hellenism and Its Discontents......Page 590 14. Education: Speaking, Thinking, and Socializing......Page 627 15. Monasticism and the Philosophical Heritage......Page 652 16. Physics and Metaphysics......Page 684 17. Travel, Cartography, and Cosmology......Page 746 Part III. Law, State, and Social Structures......Page 787 18. Economic Trajectories......Page 788 19. Concerning Rural Matters......Page 823 20. Marriage and Family......Page 877 21. Poverty, Charity, and the Invention of the Hospital......Page 940 22. Concepts of Citizenship......Page 975 23. Justice and Equality......Page 1000 24. Roman Law and Legal Culture......Page 1031 25. Communication in Late Antiquity: Use and Reuse......Page 1063 Part IV. Religions and Religious Identity......Page 1101 26. Paganism and Christianization......Page 1102 27. Episcopal Leadership......Page 1135 28. Theological Argumentation: The Case of Forgery......Page 1186 29. Sacred Space and Visual Art......Page 1208 30. Object Relations: Theorizing the Late Antique Viewer......Page 1251 31. From Nisibis to Xi’an: The Church of the East in Late Antique Eurasia......Page 1280 32. Early Islam as a Late Antique Religion......Page 1357 33. Muhammad and the Qur’ān......Page 1388 Part V. Late Antiquity in Perspective......Page 1428 34. Comparative State Formation: The Later Roman Empire in the Wider World......Page 1429 35. Late Antiquity in Byzantium......Page 1474 36. Late Antiquity and the Italian Renaissance......Page 1503 Index......Page 1537 Plates......Page 1665 Late Antiquity Extends From The Accession Of The Christian Emperor Constantine To The Rise Of Muhammad And Early Islam (ca. 300-700 Ad). This Volume Takea Account Of The Scholarship Published In The Last 30 Years And Provide A Foundational Synthesis For Students Of Late Antiquity. Preface: On The Uniqueness Of Late Antiquity / Scott Fitzgerald Johnson -- Introduction: Late Antique Conceptions Of Late Antiquity / Hervé Inglebert ; Translation From French Prepared By Scott Fitzgerald Johnson -- The Western Kingdoms / Michael Kulikowski -- Barbarians : Problems And Approaches / Michael Maas -- The Balkans / Craig H. Caldwell Iii -- Armenia / Tim Greenwood -- Central Asia And The Silk Road / Étienne De La Vaissière -- Syriac And The Syrians / Philip Wood -- Egypt / Arietta Papaconstantinou -- The Coptic Tradition / Anne Boud'hors -- Arabia And Ethiopia / Christian Julien Robin -- Latin Poetry / Scott Mcgill -- Greek Poetry / Gianfranco Agosti -- Historiography / Brian Croke -- Hellenism And Its Discontents / Aaron P. Johnson -- Education : Speaking, Thinking, And Socializing / Edward Watts -- Monasticism And The Philosophical Heritage / Samuel Rubenson -- Physics And Metaphysics / Gregory Smith -- Travel, Cartography, And Cosmology / Scott Fitzgerald Johnson -- Economic Trajectories / Jairus Banaji -- Concerning Rural Matters / Cam Grey -- Marriage And Family / Kyle Harper -- Poverty, Charity, And The Inventin Of The Hospital / Peregrine Horden -- Concepts Of Citizenship / Ralph W. Mathisen -- Justice And Equality / Kevin Uhalde -- Roman Law And Legal Culture / Jill Harries -- Communication In Late Antiquity : Use And Reuse / Andrew Gillett. Paganism And Christianization / Jaclyn Maxwell -- Episcopal Leadership / David M. Gwynn -- Theological Argumentation : The Case Of Forgery / Susan Wessel -- Sacred Space And Visual Art / Ann Marie Yasin -- Object Relations : Theorizing The Late Antique Viewer / Glenn Peers -- From Nisibis To Xi'an : The Church Of The East In Late Antique Eurasia / Joel Walker -- Early Islam As A Late Antique Religion / Robert Hoyland -- Muḥammad And The Qur'ān / Stephen J. Shoemaker -- Comparative State Formation : The Later Roman Empire In The Wider World / John Haldon -- Late Antiquity In Byzantium / Petre Guran -- Late Antiquity And The Italian Renaissance / Christopher Celenza. Edited By Scott Fitzgerald Johnson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction : late antique conceptions of late antiquity / Hervé Inglebert The western kingdoms / Michael Kulikowski Barbarians : problems and approaches / Michael Maas The Balkans / Craig H. Caldwell III Armenia / Tim Greenwood Central Asia and the silk road / Étienne de la Vaissière Syriac and the Syrians / Philip Wood Egypt / Arietta Papaconstantinou The Coptic tradition / Anne Boud'hors Ethiopia and Arabia / Christian Julien Robin Latin poetry / Scott McGill Greek poetry / Gianfranco Agosti Historiography / Brian Croke Hellenism and its discontents / Aaron Johnson Education : speaking, thinking, and socializing / Edward Watts Monasticism and the philosophical heritage / Samuel Rubenson Physics and metaphysics / Gregory Smith Travel, cartography, and cosmology / Scott F. Johnson Economic trajectories / Jairus Banaji Agriculture and other rural matters / Cam Grey Marriage and family / Kyle Harper Health, disease, and hospitals : the case of the sacred house / Peregrine Horden, Royal Holloway Concepts of citizenship / Ralph Mathisen Justice and equality / Kevin Uhalde Roman law and legal culture / Jill Harries Communication : use and reuse / Andrew Gillett. Paganism and Christianization / Jaclyn Maxwell Episcopal leadership / David M. Gwynn, Royal Holloway Theological argumentation : the case of forgery / Susan Wessel Sacred space and visual art / Ann Marie Yasin Object relations : theorizing the late antique viewer / Glenn Peers From Nisibis to Xian : the church of the east across Sasanian Persia / Joel Walker Early Islam as a late antique religion / Robert Hoyland Muhammad and the Quran / Stephen J. Shoemaker Comparative state formation : the later Roman Empire in the wider world / John Haldon Late antiquity in Byzantium / Petre Guran Late antiquity and the Italian Renaissance / Christopher Celenza. "The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity offers an innovative overview of a period (c. 300-700 CE) that has become increasingly central to scholarly debates over the history of western and Middle Eastern civilizations. This volume covers such pivotal events as the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the origins of Islam, and the early formation of Byzantium and the European Middle Ages. These events are set in the context of widespread literary, artistic, cultural, and religious change during the period. The geographical scope of this Handbook is unparalleled among comparable surveys of Late Antiquity; Arabia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Balkans all receive dedicated treatments, while the scope extends to the western kingdoms, and North Africa in the West. Furthermore, from economic theory and slavery to Greek and Latin poetry, Syriac and Coptic literature, sites of religious devotion, and many others, this Handbook covers a wide range of topics that will appeal to scholars from a diverse array of disciplines. The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity engages the perennially valuable questions about the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the medieval, while providing a much-needed touchstone for the study of Late Antiquity itself"--Back cover The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity offers an innovative overview of a period (c. 300-700 CE) that has become increasingly central to scholarly debates over the history of western and Middle Eastern civilizations. This volume covers such pivotal events as the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the origins of Islam, and the early formation of Byzantium and the European Middle Ages. These events are set in the context of widespread literary, artistic, cultural, and religious change during the period. The geographical scope of this handbook is unparalleled among comparable surveys of Late Antiquity; Arabia, Egypt, Central Asia, and the Balkans all receive dedicated treatments, while the scope extends to the western kingdoms, Ireland, and Scandinavia in the West. Furthermore, from economic theory and slavery to Greek and Latin poetry, Syriac and Coptic literature, sites of religious devotion, and many others, this handbook covers a wide range of topics that will appeal to scholars from a diverse array of disciplines. -- Publisher description