Empire to Commonwealth - Consequences of Monotheism in Late Antiquity

In this bold approach to late antiquity, Garth Fowden shows how, from the second-century peak of Rome's prosperity to the ninth-century onset of the Islamic Empire's decline, powerful beliefs in One God were used to justify and strengthen "world empires." But tensions between orthodoxy and heresy that were inherent in monotheism broke the unitary empires of Byzantium and Baghdad into the looser, more pluralistic commonwealths of Eastern Christendom and Islam. With rare breadth of vision, Fowden traces this transition from empire to commonwealth, and in the process exposes the sources of major cultural contours that still play a determining role in Europe and southwest Asia.

About the author

Garth Fowden

Summary

In this bold approach to late antiquity, Garth Fowden shows how, from the second-century peak of Rome's prosperity to the ninth-century onset of the Islamic Empire's decline, powerful beliefs in One God were used to justify and strengthen "world empires." But tensions between orthodoxy and heresy that were inherent in monotheism broke the unitary empires of Byzantium and Baghdad into the looser, more pluralistic commonwealths of Eastern Christendom and Islam. With rare breadth of vision, Fowden traces this transition from empire to commonwealth, and in the process exposes the sources of major cultural contours that still play a determining role in Europe and southwest Asia.

Additional text

"This is a short book on a big subject: it is nothing less than an essay in large-scale historical interpretation. . . . a courageous and stimulating book."---R. A. Markus, Journal of Roman Studies

Product details

• Authors: Garth Fowden, Fowden Garth, Garth Fowden
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 19.12.1994
• EAN: 9780691015453
• ISBN: 978-0-691-01545-3
• No. of pages: 232
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Middle Ages; Islam, Europe, European History, HISTORY / Middle East / General, HISTORY / Ancient / General, RELIGION / Islam / General, RELIGION / Christianity / History, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Islam / History, Middle East, Christianity, CE period up to c 1500, History of Religion, Middle Eastern history, Ancient History, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, c 500 to c 1000 CE, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, European history: medieval period, middle ages, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, BCE to c 500 CE, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, The Early Church, BCE period – Protohistory