History and Geography in Late Antiquity

by A. H. Merrills

Overview

The civilized world witnessed massive political, social and religious change from the fifth century to the eighth century. Geographical and historical thought, long rooted to Roman ideologies, had to adopt new perspectives of late antiquity. Taking their lead from Orosius in the early fifth century, Latin historians turned increasingly to geographical description, as well as historical narrative, to examine the world around them. This book explores the interdependence of geographical and historical modes of expression in four of the most important writers of the period: Orosius, Jordanes, Isidore of Seville and the Venerable Bede.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521075985
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/28/2008
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series , #64
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

A. H. Merrills is Solmsen Research Fellow, Institute for Research in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin at Madison. He has undertaken extensive archaeological work in France and Central Spain and is the editor of Vandals, Romans and Berbers: New Perspectives on Late Antique North Africa (Ashgate, 2004).

Table of Contents

Introduction: History's other eye; 1. Orosius; 2. Jordanes; 3. Isidore; 4. Bede.

Editorial Reviews

"With its compelling and cogent analysis, fine writing and inclusion of complete English translations of each of the geographical introductions, History and Geography in Late Antiquity is a valuable contribution to the scholarly literature on its subjects and will certainly make these important texts more accessible to a wide audience."
-Camille Serchuk, Southern Connecticut State University, Journal of Medieval Studies

From the Publisher