World of Late Antiquity

A remarkable study in social and cultural change that explains how and why the Late Antique world, between c. 150 and c. 750 AD, came to differ from 'Classical civilization'. The first century AD was one of momentous events: the end of the Roman empire, the rise of Christianity across western Europe and the disappearance of Persia from the Near East; an era in which the most deep-rooted of ancient institutions disappeared for all time creating divergent legacies which are still present. Renowned historian Peter Brown examines these changes and the reactions to them, to show that the period of Late Antiquity was one of outstanding new beginnings and far-reaching impacts. The result is a lucid answer to a crucial question in world history; how the exceptionally homogenous Mediterranean world of the first century AD became divided into the three mutually estranged societies of the Middle Ages: Catholic Western Europe, Byzantium and the Islamic world. Brown’s remarkable study in social and cultural transformation explains how and why the Late Antique world, came to differ from the ‘Classical civilization’ of the Greeks and Romans. Featuring a new preface and updated with colour illustrations throughout, The World of Late Antiquity demonstrates that we still have much to learn from this enduring and intriguing period of history.

'Sensitive, stimulating and learned … full of vivid imagery and impartial enthusiasm' - Sunday Times, 'Superb … it is a long time since I enjoyed a historical work so much' - Philip Toynbee, Observer, 'Peter Brown’s elegant and provocative text is beautifully supported by often unfamiliar illustrations' - Times Literary Supplement, 'Few scholars writing today can match his [Brown’s] knack of conveying just why certain issues were so engrossing to the men and women of the ancient world' - History Today

Peter Brown is Philip and Beulah Rollins Professor of History, Emeritus, at Princeton University.