Overview

One of the great Christian scholars of antiquity and a high-ranking public official under Theoderic, King of the Ostrogoths, Cassiodorus compiled edicts, diplomatic letters, and legal documents while in office. This letter collection, the Variae, remains among the most important sources for the sixth century, the period during which late antiquity transitioned to the early middle ages.   Translated and selected by scholar M. Shane Bjornlie, The Selected Letters pulls together the most interesting evidence for understanding the political culture, legal structure, intellectual and religious worldviews, and social evolution during the twilight of the late-Roman state. Bjornlie’s invaluable introduction discusses Cassiodorus’s work in civil, legal, and financial administration, revealing his interactions with emperors and kings, bishops and military commanders, private citizens, and even criminals. Section notes introduce each letter to contextualize its themes and connection with other letters, opening a window on to Cassiodorus’s world.  

Full Product Details

Author:   Cassiodorus ,  M. Shane Bjornlie
Publisher:   University of California Press
Imprint:   University of California Press
Dimensions:   Width: 12.70cm , Height: 3.00cm , Length: 19.70cm
Weight:   0.363kg
ISBN:  

9780520297340

ISBN 10:   0520297342
Pages:   328
Publication Date:   08 September 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

Maps Introduction Cassiodorus, the Variae, and Their World The Variae as a Letter Collection A Note on the Present Translation Chronology of Key Events Indictional Years Relative to Cassiodorus's Tenure in Public Offices Section I. Sixth-Century Italy in a Wider World: Diplomatic Letters from the Ostrogothic Court to the Eastern Imperial and Western Barbarian Courts Section II. The Senate in Public Life and Public Office: Letters to the Senate, Letters to Individual Senators, and Letters Announcing the Appointment of Senators to Office Section III. Civil Bureaucracy and Administration in Italy: Letters Describing Activities of the Court Bureaucracy and Letters of Appointment to Bureaucratic Posts Section IV. Taxes and Finances: Letters Describing Fiscal Organization and the Collection and Distribution of State Resources Section V. Administration of the Provinces: Letters Concerned with Ostrogothic Affairs in Regions outside Italy Section VI. Goths and the Military: Letters concerning Gothic Settlement and the Organization of the Military Section VII. Urban Life: Letters Describing Attention to the Urban Environment Section VIII. Rural Life: Letters concerning People in the Countryside and Their Obligations to the State Section IX. Religion: Letters to Bishops and Letters Touching upon the Court's Spiritual Sentiments and Involvement in Religious Matters Section X. Family and Gender: Letters concerning Households and Relations between Family Members and Letters to Women Section XI. Law, Order, and Conflict: Letters Describing the Court's Approach to Criminal Charges against Individuals Section XII. Intellectual Culture: Letters Pertaining to Aspects of Late-Antique Intellectual Culture Section XIII. Nature: Letters That Provide Literary Perspectives on the Natural World Glossary Concordance of Letters Cited in This Volume Selected Bibliography of Related Reading Index of Individuals Index of Concepts, Peoples, and Terms Index of Places

Reviews

Bjornlie makes the material as readable as it's ever going to be. . . . We need reliable, well-annotated translations, and products of this quality should be recognised as the original contributions they are. A formidable and committed translator, Cassiodorus would surely agree. * London Review of Books *

Author Information

M. Shane Bjornlie is Associate Professor of Roman and Late Antique History in the Department of History at Claremont McKenna College.

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