The Roman Empire of Ammianus - Hardcover

Matthews, Professor John Frederick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801839653 ISBN 13: 9780801839658

Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989

Synopsis

John Matthews' brilliant analysis of Ammianus and his world is foundational for the study of the Roman Empire in the fourth century CE. Matthews' Ammianus is a man very much in touch with his times, engaged in many of the exciting events that he describes, and a commentator motivated by a passionate devotion to justice. The empire that he depicts in The Roman Empire of Ammianus is undergoing a profoundly important intellectual transition as Christians and non-Christians dealt with each other in new ways, and a profoundly important political transition as Rome's ability to control its frontiers was severely challenged. This new edition of the volume offers a new Introduction by the author, and corrections to the original text. In Matthews' brilliantly researched and compellingly written pages we encounter brigands, philosophers, bishops, barbarians and one of the most extraordinary figures in all of Roman history: the Emperor Julian, who occupies for Matthews - as he did for Ammianus - a central place in the history of these times. Ammianus has been recognized for centuries as the last great historian of the Classical Latin tradition. It is thanks to Matthews that we can at last begin to appreciate the brilliance and complexity of the tapestry he wove with his words.

About this title

Review:

...The Roman Empire of Ammianus will continue to be an obligatory first port of call for students and scholars, and it generous inclusiveness will ensure repeat visits.'--Peter O'Brien, Dalhousie University "Mouseion, 2009 "

About the Author:

John Matthews is John M. Schiff Professor of History and Classics at Yale University. He has written extensively on later Roman history, and he received the American Historical Association's James Henry Breasted Prize for The Journey of Theophanes: Travel, Business, and Daily Life in the Roman East. His other works include Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court, AD 364-425; Political Life and Culture in Late Roman Society; Laying Down the Law: A Study of the Theodosian Code.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0801839653
• ISBN 13: 9780801839658
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 624