Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe, by Judith Herrin
Giulia Bellato
This monograph is an ambitious, rewarding and detailed history of the city Ravenna, spanning period from its designation as imperial capital in early fifth century to Carolingian spoliations ninth. It not so much urban a comprehensive account political religious forces operating Europe Mediterranean these centuries shaping context which Ravenna can best be analysed. While Ravenna’s has been subject vast scholarship, including at least three significant recent monographs, Judith Herrin’s approach based on fundamental shift perspective: she rejects label ‘Late Antiquity’ useful periodisation, choosing speak ‘Early Christendom’ instead. Christianity, Herrin argues, was defining characteristic era; pervasive element construction authority, economy, built environment social structures. just semantic...
The English Historical Review