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Gillian Clark
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Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction Paperback – 24 May 2011

by Clark (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 75 ratings
Edition: 1st
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Late antiquity: decline or transformation, conflict or interaction? Late antiquity is the period (c.300 - c.800) in which barbarian invasions ended Roman Empire in Western Europe by the fifth century and Arab invasions ended Roman rule over the eastern and southern Mediterranean coasts by the seventh century. Asking 'what, where, and when' Gillian Clark presents an introduction to the concept of late antiquity and the events of its time. Not only a period of cultural clashes, political restructurings, and geographical controversies, Clark also demonstrates the sheer richness and diversity of religious life as well as the significant changes to trade, economy, archaeology, and towns. Encapsulating significant developments through vignettes, she reflects upon the period by asking the question 'How much can we recognise in the world of late antiquity?' ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0199546207
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199546206
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press UK
  5. Publication date
    24 May 2011
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    17.78 x 10.92 x 1.02 cm
  8. Print length
    160 pages
  9. See all details
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Product description

Book Description

In this vibrant and compact introduction, Gillian Clark sheds light on the concept of late antiquity and the events of its time, showing that this was a period of great transformation

From the Publisher

Gillian Clark was a student and then Research Fellow at Somerville College, Oxford. In 2000 she was appointed as the first Professor of Ancient History at the University of Bristol. She co-edits the OUP series Oxford Early Christian Studies and Oxford Early Christian Texts. She is also on the editorial committee of the Journal of Roman Studies and the advisory board of the Journal of Late Anquity.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press UK; 1st edition (24 May 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199546207
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199546206
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 10.92 x 1.02 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 75 ratings

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Gillian Clark

Gillian Clark

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Victor
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom
Reviewed in Brazil on 5 April 2020
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Bom
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Vigilantius
4.0 out of 5 stars Rapid, pithy and stimulating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2018
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A very readable, rapid run around the main issues and themes of this fascinating and ill-defined period, which is epitomised by the rise of Christianity and the decline of the western Roman Empire. The emphasis is on culture rather than conventional history, so there is relatively little here about the sequence of events, which may not suit everyone.

Gillian Clark, a noted authority on the period, writes with her customary verve and acuity, giving counter-blasts against some of the more clichéd views: religious intolerance can be over-estimated; we don’t know what life was like for the vast majority of the population; and monastic life was revolutionary. Nevertheless, by the seventh century, if not before, the western mind was closing due to censorship and persecution by mainstream, Christian orthodoxy. But at the same time many groups of ‘barbarians’ were settling and inter-marrying, bringing new customs and fracturing forever the rigid Imperial hierarchies while preserving some Roman culture.

A minor cavil: several of the books in the bibliography are not available (not even from the London Library).
4 people found this helpful
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A Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Introduction to Late Antiquity
Reviewed in the United States on 14 July 2016
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This book is one of my favorite of the VSI series. I find not only the information conveyed but the quality of the writing to be exceptional. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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RSBM
5.0 out of 5 stars My Review
Reviewed in Canada on 13 October 2013
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I found Gillian Clark's book very readable. I am not very familiar with the "Very Short Introduction" series by OUP, but it reminds me of the "Que sais-je?" series published by Presse Universitaire Française (PUF), which I generally found very helpful. Overall, then, I would strongly recommend Dr. Clark's book to other readers interested in Late Antiquity.
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P. Salus
4.0 out of 5 stars Less than desired
Reviewed in Canada on 5 January 2017
Verified Purchase
I found Clark's booklet disappointing. It is good, but more superficial than I expected.
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