Greek and Latin Literature of the Roman Empire: From Augustus to Justinian

Translated by Manfred Malzahn. This is the first book which describes Greek and Latin literature between the first century BC and the sixth century AD as a unity. This unity developed rapidly during the first century and disintegrated during the last century of that period. Professor Dihle builds on Friedrich Schlegel's observation that art, customs and political life in classical antiquity are so entwined that they cannot easily be conceived of separately; he produces a history which encompasses all works of cultural and socio-historical significance. Besides poetry and prose, the book discusses letters and scholarly investigations, philosophy and rhetoric, historical writing and jurisprudence. The exact sciences, geography, medicine, mathematics, technology, and Jewish and Christian writings are also covered. Individual treatment is given to major authors like Seneca, Tacitus, Plotinus and Augustine, as well as other writers who made significant contributions to their fields and have been unjustly neglected. As the work of a single author, "Greek and Latin Literature of the Roman Empire" is a towering achievement – an authoritative yet personal presentation of seven hundred years of cultural life. In this book, an unusually rich period of history receives for the first time a detailed but synoptic treatment: it is a book for students and scholars, as well as the general reader, which has no competitor.