Eusebius's account is the only surviving historical record of the Church during its crucial first 300 years. Bishop Eusebius; a learned scholar who lived most of his life in Caesarea in Palestine; broke new ground in writing the History and provided a model for all later ecclesiastical historians. In tracing the history of the Church from the time of Christ to the Great Persecution at the beginning of the fourth century; and ending with the conversion of the Emperor Constantine; his aim was to show the purity and continuity of the doctrinal tradition of Christianity and its struggle against persecutors and heretics.
#348459 in Books imusti 1986-08-05 1986-08-05Original language:LatinPDF # 1 7.80 x 1.00 x 5.10l; .77 #File Name: 0140444068506 pagesPenguin Classics
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Ammianus MarcellinusBy K. MurphyI don't appreciate how this translation left out a number of passages; but that is my only complaint. Ammianus Marcellinus and his surviving writings stand out for many reasons; he was one of the last great Roman historians (and is much more reliable than the writers of the Historiae Augusta); he was one of the only Roman soldiers of any rank to leave any writings of his experiences behind; and he was one of the last great pagan writers (though; like his beloved Emperor Julian to whom he devoted much of his writings; he was not unfair in his treatment of Christians and did not judge his fellow men on account of their religion-more than can be said for most of the Christians and pagans alike of his time). Most importantly; though; Marcellinus has left us with the best (and really one of the only) contemporary histories of the mid 4th Century Roman Empire and provides accounts of the climatic battles of Strausborg; Ctesiphon; and Adrianople. Read this book to gain a deeper understanding of Rome's twilight years in the West; and of one of its lasts spurts of energy and glory before being carved into a set of petty Germanic kingdoms.46 of 48 people found the following review helpful. "To be Placed in a Class with the Greatest"By Johannes PlatonicusAmmianus Marcellinus handles the vicissitudes of the later Roman Empire with an eloquence and timeless lore that matches that of his predecessors Livy; Suetonius; and Tacitus. He is not unfamiliar to those who study the ancient world of late antiquity because of the priceless information he provides and the fact that he is one of the few to actually encounter and document facts as they occurred either through personal experience or by the testimonies of his contemporaries. Ammianus was a Greek by descent yet born in Syria; and later became somewhat of an influence in the Roman military. His account of the incursions with the barbarians and persians is very detailed; elaborate; and laced with irony - traits that the great historians were all accustomed to. Ammianus' treatment of the Caesar's: Gallus; Constantius; Julian; Jovian; Valentinian; and Valen's is fair and nearly free from partialty - there is speculation as to whether or not he came in contact with any of the Caesar's. He was a pagan and of course an admirer of the pagan Emperor Julian - this left an impression upon the great historian Edward Gibbon whose prose and sentiments complement Ammianus' in so many fashions. Ammianus never penetrates into the intestinal matters of ecclesiastical affairs; but only mentions Christianity a few times; and this is practically free from bias. Overall as a source to gain a better understanding of the later Roman world with its valiant emperors; frequent internal disasters; military prowess and defeat; and decaying social strata in general; Ammianus Marcellinus' history is the most reliable...the value of this history must not be underestimated.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Brutus; et tu?By Gary Guddy'Civilized' Humans haven't changed. This serves to remind us how brutally petty and devious we all are.
