Late Roman Gaul is often seen either from a classical Roman perspective as an imperial province in decay and under constant threat from barbarian invasion or settlement, or from the medieval one, as the cradle of modern France and Germany. Standard texts and "moments" have emerged and been canonized in the scholarship on the period, be it Gaul aflame in 407 or the much-disputed baptism of Clovis in 496/508. This volume avoids such stereotypes. It brings together state-of-the-art work in archaeology, literary, social, and religious history, philology, philosophy, epigraphy, and numismatics not only to examine under-used and new sources for the period, but also critically to reexamine a few of the old standards. This will provide a fresh view of various more unusual aspects of late Roman Gaul, and also, it is hoped, serve as a model for ways of interpreting the late Roman sources for other areas, times, and contexts.
Reviews
'This is a useful volume that rewards its readers with a synopsis of how scholars interpret historical evidence to illuminate the history of fifth-century Gaul. While they vary greatly among themselves in their approach to the sources, the individual papers all demonstrate deep learning and insight.' Speculum 'Specialists in Late Antiquity will discover much meat in this well-produced collection, but those from other fields will also find this a rewarding glimpse into a cross-section of the continuum of Greco-Roman culture.' Ancient History



Book Information
ISBN 9781138251328
Author Ralph Mathisen
Format Paperback
Page Count 342
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g