The Age of Justinian: The Circumstances of Imperial Power

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Psychology Press, 2000 - Biography & Autobiography - 345 pages
The Age of Justinian (527-565) marks the transition between Late Antiquity, when the norms of the classical world still survived, and the Byzantine period, which featured a Christian state that left little or no space for outsiders. While Justinian considered himself the restorer of the Roman Empire, his contemporaries saw him as an innovator who consciously willed change. J.A.S. Evans examines not only the history of this great emperor, but also the environment in which he lived. The Age of Justinian looks at the social structure of the empire, and the neighbours that surrounded it. It also chronicles the theological issues, which split the empire and left even deeper divisions after Justinian's death, in spite of his best efforts to settle them. At the end, Justinian found himself facing forces which were too strong even for a man with his determination. But, for all that, we are left with a sense of admiration for the great emperor and his wife, Theodora. Their aims were high and they presided over a period of brilliance. They belonged to a unique moment of history, and in the problems they encountered and the forces they faced, we can dimly recognize some that are with us to the present day.
 

Contents

Introduction
1
THE IMPERIAL ENVIRONMENT
11
and the Persian offensive
151
the plague year
160
DOMESTIC PROBLEMS
183
Social and economic developments
215
Commerce
232
Jews Samaritans pagans heretics
240
THE FINAL YEARS
253
Notes
273
Sources
306
Index
331
Copyright

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About the author (2000)

J.A.S. Evans is Professor of Classics at the University of British Columbia and began his career as a papyrologist. His publications include Procopius (1972) and Herodotus, Explorer of the Past (1991).

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