Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Late Rome

Explore the captivating era of Late Antiquity in Rome with our carefully curated reading list, offering a comprehensive overview of this transformative period in the Eternal City’s history.

(c) Peter Connolly

Delve into the works of renowned scholars such as Curran, Llewellyn, and Ward-Perkins, whose insightful analyses shed light on the social, political, and religious upheavals that marked the decline of classical civilization and the rise of medieval Europe. Discover the profound impact of Christianity on Roman society, the challenges posed by barbarian invasions, and the enduring legacy of Roman institutions in the face of profound change. From the twilight of the Western Roman Empire to the dawn of the Byzantine era, our curated selection of texts provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities and contradictions of Late Antique Rome, inviting readers to explore a pivotal chapter in the city’s storied past.

General

  • Claridge, A., Rome: an Oxford archaeological guide, Oxford, 2010, 25-32, 86-7, 391-95, 446-58.
  • Coulston, J. & Dodge, H., Ancient Rome: the archaeology of the eternal city, Oxford, 2000, Ch 12.
  • Curran. J.R., Pagan city and Christian capital: Rome in the fourth century, Oxford, 2000.

Further Reading

  • Ensoli, S. & La Rocca, E., Aurea Roma: dalla città pagana alla città cristiana, Rome, 2000.
  • Ferrua, A., Inglis, I. & Nardini, B., The unknown catacomb: a unique discovery of early Christian art, New Lanark, 1991.
  • Harris, W.V. & Arce, J., The transformations of Urbs roma in late antiquity, Portsmouth RI, 1999.
  • Kalas, G., The restoration of the Roman Forum in late antiquity: transforming public space, Austin, 2015.
  • Krautheimer, R. & Curcic, S., Early Christian and Byzantine architecture, Harmondsworth, 1986, Ch 1-2.
  • Lancon, B., Nevill, A & Humphries M., Rome in late antiquity: everyday life and urban change AD 312-609, Edinburgh, 2000.
  • Llewellyn, P., Rome in the Dark Ages, London, 1996.
  • Mancinelli, F., Fasola, U.M. & Wasserman, C., The catacombs of Rome and the origins of Christianity, Florence, 1981.
  • McKitterick, R., Old Saint Peter’s, Rome, Cambridge, 2013.
  • Spera, L., ‘The Christianization of Space along the via Appia: Changing Landscape in the Suburbs of Rome’ in AJA.107, 2003, 23-43.
  • Stevenson, J., The catacombs: rediscovered monuments of early Christianity, London, 1978.
  • Ward-Perkins, J.B. & Boethius, A., Roman imperial architecture, Harmondsworth, 1981, Ch 14.