2019 PROSE Award finalist in the Classics category! A Social and Cultural History of Late Antiquity examines the social and cultural landscape of the Late Antique Mediterranean. The text offers a picture of everyday life as it was lived in the spaces around and between two of the most memorable and towering figures of the time―Constantine and Muhammad. The author captures the period using a wide-lens, including Persian material from the mid third century through Umayyad material of the mid eighth century C.E. The book offers a rich picture of Late Antique life that is not just focused on Rome, Constantinople, or Christianity. This important resource uses nuanced terms to talk about complex issues and fills a gap in the literature by surveying major themes such as power, gender, community, cities, politics, law, art and architecture, and literary culture. The book is richly illustrated and filled with maps, lists of rulers and key events. A Social and Cultural History of Late Antiquity is an essential guide that: Paints a rich picture of daily life in Late Antique that is not simply centered on Rome, Constantinople, or Christianity  - Balances a thematic approach with rigorous attention to chronology - Stresses the need for appreciating both sources and methods in the study of Late Antique history  - Offers a sophisticated model for investigating daily life and the complexities of individual and group identity in the rapidly changing Mediterranean world  - Includes useful maps, city plans, timelines, and suggestions for further reading  A Social and Cultural History of Late Antiquity offers an examination of everyday life in the era when adherents of three of the major religions of today―Christianity, Judaism, and Islam―faced each other for the first time in the same environment. Learn more about A Social and Cultural History of Late Antiquity ’s link to current social issues in Boin’s article for the History News Network . “As a textbook, this book is ambitious. No other book that covers late antiquity is quite like it. The writing style throughout is chatty and encouraging, making this a wonderful guide for any high school Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum or introductory undergraduate history of late antiquity class...Boin aims to make history not just about grand political moments but intimate moments as well. This intimacy comes across from focusing on people―fairly ordinary people or, at least, those generally unknown to non-specialists.” - Dr. Nicola Denzey Lewis, Chair of Women's Studies in Religion, Claremont Graduate University for Reading Religion "Generous boxed texts cover specific points for classroom discussion on general themes...A penultimate chapter on South Asia and China in the 6th and 7th centuries, and a final chapter reflecting on the rise of Islam provides a welcome broadening of the canvas. The volume has been thoughtfully assembled, is presented in manageable chunks and is tidily illustrated.” - Andrew Merrills, University of Leicester for Medieval Archaeology “There are two main reasons that this book will make a wise choice as an assigned text. First, as textbooks go, it is a pleasure to read. Each chapter is fairly brief (around twenty pages) and―refraining from the tedium of running through most of what can be said on a topic―focuses on a few pieces of archaeological or literary evidence in an attempt to tease out what these ancient fragments tell us.... Second, the focus on these few bits of evidence in each chapter also helpfully demonstrates the difficulty of interpreting a literary text or a clay pot, as well as the rewards in the attempt.” - Edmon L. Gallagher for Review of Biblical Literature Did You Know? This book is available as a Wiley E-Text. The Wiley E-Text is a complete digital version of the text that makes time spent studying more efficient. Course materials can be accessed on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device—so that learning can take place anytime, anywhere. A more affordable alternative to traditional print, the Wiley E-Text creates a flexible user experience: ✓ Access on-the-go ✓ Search across content ✓ Highlight and take notes ✓ Save money! The Wiley E-Text can be purchased in the following ways: Check with your bookstore for available e-textbook options Wiley E-Text: Powered by VitalSource ® ISBN 978-1-119-07698-8 Directly from: www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell Did You Know? This book is available as a Wiley E-Text. The Wiley E-Text is a complete digital version of the text that makes time spent studying more efficient. Course materials can be accessed on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device―so that learning can take place anytime, anywhere. A more affordable alternative to traditional print, the Wiley E-Text creates a flexible user experience: ✓ Access on-the-go ✓ Search across content ✓ Highlight and take notes ✓ Save money! The Wiley E-Text can be purchased in the following ways: Check with your books