This book is essential reading for understanding what happened to Rome at the end of antiquity. By focusing on the actions of senatorial aristocrats, I explore the restoration of the city of Rome and the slow growth of the influence of the papacy at the beginning of the middle ages.
The Cambridge History of Religion in the Classical World provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the religions of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The fourteen essays in Volume I begin in the third millennium BCE with the Sumerians and extend to the fourth century BCE through the fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and the demise of Alexander the Great. Its contributors, all acknowledged experts in their fields, analyze a wide spectrum of textual and material evidence. An introductory essay by the General Editor sets out the central questions, themes, and historical trends considered in Volumes I and II. Marvin A. Sweeney provides an introduction to the chapters of Volume I. The regional and historical orientations of the essays will enable readers to see how a religious tradition or movement assumed a distinctive local identity, even as they view its development within a comparative framework. Supplemented with maps, illustrations, and detailed indexes, the volume is an excellent reference tool for scholars of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world.
Focusing on the actions of senatorial aristocrats, this book delves into the restoration of Rome and the gradual rise of papal influence during the early Middle Ages. It provides essential insights into the transformative events that marked the end of antiquity and the beginning of a new era for the city and its governance. Through this lens, the narrative sheds light on the complex interplay between political power and religious authority in shaping Rome's historical trajectory.