Egypt In Late Antiquity

Description

This book brings together a vast amount of information pertaining to the society, economy, and culture of a province important to understanding the entire eastern part of the later Roman Empire. Focusing on Egypt from the accession of Diocletian in 284 to the middle of the fifth century, Roger Bagnall draws his evidence mainly from documentary and archaeological sources, including the papyri that have been published over the last thirty years. Cover Page Half-title Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Illustrations Preface A Note on References and Abbreviations Introduction Sources: The Limits of Abundance Methods of Understanding Continuity and Change, Particular and General Organizing the Subject 1. The Environment The Nile, Valley and Delta: Geology, Ecology Seasons and Calendar Food and Clothing: Necessities and Luxuries Transportation Material Culture: Work and Consumption 2. The Cities The Built Environment Political Community Imperial Government The Seat of Wealth Production, Distribution, and Services Wome Greek Education and Culture Wider Horizons 3. Country Villages Land and Villages Independent Farmers Leasing Land Hiring Labor Rural Slavery Work Outside Agriculture Women in the Village Economy Government and Community Intervillage Links On the Margins 4. City and Country Managing the Land Taxation Order, Disorder, and Justice The Military in Society 5. People and Families Demography: The Shape of the Population Disease, Injury, and Death Sex, Marriage, Divorce Parents, Children, and Families 6. Power and Dependence Slavery Patronage and Dependency Protection A Sense of Class 7. Languages, Literacy, and Ethnicity Languages, Names, and Ethnicity The Decline of Demotic and Rise of Coptic Spoken and Written Greek in the Villages Greek Literacy in the Towns Greek and Coptic, Christianity and Paganism Language, Literacy, and Status 8. This World and the Next Temples in Trouble Pagan Piety and Practice Magic and Astrology The Survival of Judaism The Christianization of Egypt Property and the Church Monasticism By Schisms Rent Asunder, by Heresies Distrest 9. A Mediterranean Society The Agricultural Economy The Economic Life of Cities The Transformation of Society Forms and Uses of Power Esvvt and Mediterranean Culture Appendix 1: Time Appendix 2: Money and Measures Appendix 3: The Nomes Appendix 4: Glossary of Technical Terms Bibliography Index 1: General Index Index 2: Index of Texts Discussed