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Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe Hardcover – October 27, 2020

by Judith Herrin (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 652 ratings
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A riveting history of the city that led the West out of the ruins of the Roman Empire

At the end of the fourth century, as the power of Rome faded and Constantinople became the seat of empire, a new capital city was rising in the West. Here, in Ravenna on the coast of Italy, Arian Goths and Catholic Romans competed to produce an unrivaled concentration of buildings and astonishing mosaics. For three centuries, the city attracted scholars, lawyers, craftsmen, and religious luminaries, becoming a true cultural and political capital. Bringing this extraordinary history marvelously to life, Judith Herrin rewrites the history of East and West in the Mediterranean world before the rise of Islam and shows how, thanks to Byzantine influence, Ravenna played a crucial role in the development of medieval Christendom.

Drawing on deep, original research, Herrin tells the personal stories of Ravenna while setting them in a sweeping synthesis of Mediterranean and Christian history. She narrates the lives of the Empress Galla Placidia and the Gothic king Theoderic and describes the achievements of an amazing cosmographer and a doctor who revived Greek medical knowledge in Italy, demolishing the idea that the West just descended into the medieval "Dark Ages."

Beautifully illustrated and drawing on the latest archaeological findings, this monumental book provides a bold new interpretation of Ravenna's lasting influence on the culture of Europe and the West.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    576 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    October 27, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 2 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0691153434
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0691153438
  8. See all details
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Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. The Formation of Christendom (Princeton Classics, 120)
  2. Theoderic the Great: King of Goths, Ruler of Romans
  3. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint
  4. The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium
  5. Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire
  6. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
Next page

From the Publisher

Uncover the fascinating history of the empires of early christendom. Explore Judith Herrin's work.

Women in Purple Rulers of medieval Byzantium

Ravenna Capital of Empire Crucible of Europe

Unrivalled Influence Women and Empire Byzantium

Byzantium The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire

The Formation of Christendom

Margins and Metropolis Authority Across the Byzantine Empire

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Winner of the Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize"

"Winner of the PROSE Award in European History, Association of American Publishers"

"Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, Wolfson Foundation"

"Shortlisted for the London Hellenic Prize, The Hellenic Centre"

"Longlisted for the Cundill History Prize, McGill University"

"Judith Herrin explains in her lively, startling book, Ravenna really did deserve ‘the most noble’ title bestowed by this anonymous admirer. From its origins as a refuge in a dying empire, it went on to host kings and prelates, physicians and lawyers―and ultimately help shape Europe." ― The Economist

"The book is absolutely gorgeous, with magnificent colour reproductions of Ravenna's churches and mosaics. Relics of an age that seems almost impossibly remote, they are the foundations on which modern Europe stands."---Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times

"[E]minently worth reading. The colour plates are so sumptuous that the Ravenna mosaics fairly glow on the page. History teaches us that it is on the margins that the greatest change often occurs. Ravenna was on such a margin. Now, perhaps for the first time, the city emerges triumphant from the shadow of the so-called Dark Ages."---Ian Thomson, The Spectator

"Aficionados of early medieval history―and of course Ravenna itself―will learn much from Herrin’s work." ― Kirkus Reviews

"Beautifully illustrated, impeccably researched and accessibly presented, it traces Ravenna's career as the capital of the Roman empire in the west. . . . Buildings are also brought to life alongside the people who built and used them. . . . It is this linking of tangible remains and historical record that is the book's great strength."---Jonathan Harris, BBC History Magazine

"Herrin tells the changing story of Ravenna as it unfolds from the end of the fourth century to the ninth in a series of short, accessible sections with the aid of luscious illustrations."---Averil Cameron, History Today

"Judith Herrin’s book [Ravenna] explains by recounting the city’s life from 402, when it became the capital of the Roman Empire in the West, to 751, when the Lombards took over. The story is not, she emphasises, one of decline, but of rebirth, for Ravenna established what European Christendom could become. . . . By the time we can easily visit Ravenna the city again it should be with the advantage of having read Ravenna the book."---Christopher Howse, The Telegraph

"[Ravenna] is absolutely gorgeous, with magnificent colour reproductions of Ravenna’s churches and mosaics. Relics of an age that seems almost impossibly remote, they are the foundations on which modern Europe stands."---Dominic Sandbrook, The Times

"Bold. . . . elegantly argue[d]." ― New Yorker

"

Magnificent. . . recaptures the excitement of discovering the history of a city where East Rome and Latin Europe joined for many centuries in ways that defy our neat divisions between ancient and medieval; Romans, Greeks, and barbarians; East and West.

"---Peter Brown, New York Review of Books

"A sweeping and engrossing history . . . an accessible narrative that brings to life the men and women who created the city during this period and who fashioned its hybrid Christian culture of Latin, Greek and Gothic elements. The narrative is periodically elevated by discussions of the city’s most famous attractions and its glorious churches, brilliantly illustrated in the book’s 62 color plates. It is also enlivened by recurring digressions on daily life in the city at each phase in its history."---Anthony Kaldellis, Wall Street Journal

"[T]ake [Judith] Herrin’s book slowly. It’s not a skimmer. There’s a lot to absorb. A careful, patient read best reveals the book’s richness."---Brian T. Allen, National Review

"Judith Herrin’s Ravenna sparkles like the city’s world-heritage mosaics . . . [this] sweeping social and cultural history is presented in easily digestible sections and augmented with lavish illustrations."---Michael Champion, Australian Book Review

"A masterwork of scholarship and sharp intelligence."---Neal Ascherson, Red Pepper

"Herrin’s study and its admirable illustrations are well worth readers’ attention . . . . An informative and enjoyable book."---Catharine S. Brosman, Chronicles Magazine

"Judith Herrin tells its fascinating history and presents a parade of forceful and creative characters with great insight and a wonderfully light touch, in a book as beautifully produced as it is profoundly researched."---R.I. Moore, author of The War on Heresy

Review

"Magisterial―an outstanding book that shines a bright light on one of the most important, interesting, and under-studied cities in European history. A masterpiece."―Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World

"A meticulous guide to a fascinating historical period. Particularly impressive is Herrin's treatment of some of the great characters associated with Ravenna, whose lives she examines with insight, empathy, and an eye for revealing detail."―T. S. Brown, author of Gentlemen and Officers: Imperial Administration and Aristocratic Power in Byzantine Italy, AD 554–800

"A masterwork by one of our greatest historians of Byzantium and early Christianity. Judith Herrin tells a story that is at once gripping and authoritative and full of wonderful detail about every element in the life of Ravenna. Impossible to put down."―David Freedberg, author of The Power of Images

"This brilliant biography of Ravenna is essential reading for anyone who would understand the transformation of the Roman world."―Patrick Geary, author of The Myth of Nations: The Medieval Origins of Europe

"A wonderful new history of the Mediterranean from the fifth to eighth century through a lens focused on Ravenna, gracefully and clearly written, which reconceptualizes what was 'East' and what was 'West.'"―Caroline Goodson, author of The Rome of Pope Paschal I

"This is a masterful study as splendid as Ravenna's mosaics. Bringing to new life the city and the people who shaped it, Herrin explores Ravenna's role as a rival of Rome, a Byzantine outpost in the West, and a model for Charlemagne's imperial aspirations―in short, as a crucible of Europe."―Claudia Rapp, author of Brother-Making in Late Antiquity and Byzantium: Monks, Laymen, and Christian Ritual

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; First Edition (October 27, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691153434
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691153438
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 2 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 652 ratings

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Judith Herrin

Judith Herrin

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
652 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023
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When I first opened the book and read the preface, which describes some of the confusing issues in reference to historical names which the reader will encounter, I was more than a bit intimidated. I am an amateur, not a historian. And indeed, having finished the book I cannot recite which personage appeared in which century. But the read was very smooth. A very well written narrative that told the story very well. There are some high-quality accompanying illustrations which serve to reinforce the narrative...most welcome (though at times the text and Figure #'s don't coincide, but the reader can readily resolve this small discrepancy). I came away with a much deeper understanding of Ravenna which I had visited last year. My only regret was that I had not had this book before my visit as I would have had such a better insight into the historical context of the edifices I was visiting. But please be sure, this is NOT a guide book, it is a historical work but one that is very well suited for the layman.
9 people found this helpful
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Book Fanatic
4.0 out of 5 stars Great color plates
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2021
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This has a lot of colored photos of ancient art in churches and ancient coins. They are beautiful to look at. The history is interesting and dense. It takes longer to read if you are not familiar with any of this. Great historian. Beautiful book.
3 people found this helpful
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A Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent History
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2020
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This truly exceptional history covers the period from the reign of Diocletian to the reign of Charlemagne, about 5 centuries. These murky years - filled with invasions, Huns, Goths, Lombards, popes, Byzantines, and bishops - are typically thought of as the heart of the Dark Ages in Europe and glossed over as confusing and unimportant in most history classes. Herrin instead describes a vibrant time through the lens of the evolution of the city of Ravenna from backwater town chosen by the Roman Emperor Honorius to be his capital due to its easily defended location, through its centuries of importance, before its return to backwater status in about 800.

The cast of characters Herrin writes about include the imperial daughter Galla Placidia, the Arian Goth King Theoderic, Emperor Justinian, a host of dynamic archbishops and popes, the Lombard King Desiderius, the Byzantine Empress Irene, and Charlemagne among others. The author clearly explains the world events that gradually moved Europe's focus away from the dominant imperial rulers in Constantinople to the leaders in western Europe (specifically Charlemagne). I have never read a history that explained this transition so well.

Herrin writes with a fluid and engaging style that keeps the reader interested through even the most tedious of Church rivalries between popes and errant bishops. The book contains excellent maps and illustrations to help readers visualize Ravenna would have been like at its height.

All in all, this book is a masterful accomplishment that anyone interested in the development of European history would appreciate.
46 people found this helpful
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nick katko
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book about a lost period of history
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2023
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This is a great book to learn about history between about 300-800 ad. I loved all the detail but I recommend Googling phrases you may not understand
3 people found this helpful
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james dalgety
5.0 out of 5 stars No city or regional maps, few illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024
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This book is heavy reading, and seems to flit from issue to issue. But every thing is covered, and would serve as a good travel guide for those interested in the late Roman Empire and/or Goths.
2 people found this helpful
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JATL
4.0 out of 5 stars If you love Ravenna, you'll like this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020
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If you love Ravenna, you'll like this book, but you won't love it. The book is readable, but just. It's a book for historians, not for a general audience. It has 400 pages packed in with information, and 80 pages of notes. The author says she spent nine years writing it. I wish she had spent another year condensing it and trying to appeal to a broader set of readers. I am interested in the story of Ravenna; I don't want to know all the details of the history of the history. Still I am enjoying reading it. I am adapt at skimming to avoid getting bogged down. The plates add a lot and are fantastic. Great color photos of key sites, better than the souvenir books you can buy in Ravenna.
30 people found this helpful
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Patricia Vazquez
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
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Narrator and content were both divine. Can’t wait to go back to Ravenna now that I know what to visit and why.
2 people found this helpful
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Moisio
3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History Marred by Awkward Writing
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
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This is a fine book in many ways, but better editing would have improved it. First of all, this is an academic exercise, not a narrative history. So the writing is not necessarily the point, but run-on sentences and awkward phrasing abound, especially in the first half. Secondly, I read the (black and white) Kindle edition. I imagine the physical edition better portrays what appeared to be beautiful color photographs of mosaics, buildings, and other artifacts.

That said, Herrin’s book sets out to shed light on what has come to be known as the Dark Ages. The eponymous city, located in a marshy area on Italy’s Adriatic coast, provides the setting for her exposition. In short, Ravenna came to serve as Constantinople’s foothold in Europe as that city gradually took Rome’s mantle as the seat of empire. For a time, it was the capital of the Western Empire, proving more defensible than Rome or Milan. Its influence probably peaked during the reign of King Theoderic, the Ostrogoth, who was sent by Constantinople to assert control in Italy.

Herrin’s study features much more than just the political rise and fall of Ravenna. She delves into the religious disagreements that caused so much strife at the time, focusing mainly on Arianism as a rival to Catholic orthodoxy. Unsurprisingly, many records have been lost over the centuries, but she also gives a sense of daily life in Ravenna, using papyrus records of financial transactions that took place between individuals and the two major institutions of Church and State. Most of all, the book goes a long way in dispelling the notion that Europe at the time was characterized uniformly by ignorance and war.

It’s difficult to condense the scope of this book into such a short review. Suffice it to say that, to this layperson, it reads as an ambitious survey of a forgotten city’s roughly four century heyday. If it weren’t so esoteric, one would look for it in an undergraduate history course. Perhaps the current push in academia to add nuance to our understanding of the early Middle Ages will bring this kind of book into the mainstream of historical understanding. The biggest flaw here is the editing; tighter writing would have made it much more enjoyable to read.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Joao H. Dos Santos
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro icônico
Reviewed in Brazil on September 12, 2021
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Um livro destinado a estudantes, professores e pesquisadores das áreas de História, Artes e Arquitetura. Magistralmente escrito e repleto de belíssimas imagens.
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netzer juerg, lic.iur.
5.0 out of 5 stars Jürg Franz Netzer lic.iur.
Reviewed in Germany on April 20, 2023
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An excellent survey of the political and ecclesiastical development of Ravenna specially in the 5th and 6th c.
Highly interesting are the indications about the taxes of tenants in Sicily, the annual income of the Catholic
cathedral of 160 lbs., the costs for the construction of San Vitale and the numismatic evidences.
In connection with the octagonal baptisteries an entering into the symbolic meaning of the number eight
would have been very desirable.
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Vlad Thelad
5.0 out of 5 stars Ravenna, epicentre of change
Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2020
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I remember, in the context of a high school debate, someone decrying an argument as a Byzantine discussion, given its inability to help in addressing the real issues at hand. I recall as well a Spanish tongue twister involving the archbishop of Constantinople. And that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge of the period in European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the middle ages. This book covers four centuries, from the year 400 to 800, and does so centering on one city, Ravenna. This Adriatic city was the epicentre of the west of the Empire, and a microcosm of the vast transformations of the continent, from Roman times to the reign of Charlemagne. It is within its walls that we learn of the cultural, artistic, social and political, architectural, and religious seismic changes that this part of the world underwent, delightfully written by Herrin. And, yes, there were many a theological schism rooted in no more, or less, than a Byzantine discussion.
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Casey the sausage dog
5.0 out of 5 stars a great travel through a crucial period of formation of modern Europe
Reviewed in Italy on January 23, 2021
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Besides explaining in a very clear manner Ravenna and its role from the years before the fall of Rome up to the Frankish conquests of Charlemagne, I found this book to be a wonderful experience of understanding a key period in the shaping out what has become to be modern Europe.
A travel in time that puts the puzzle together going through the assimilation of non latin peoples within the Roman organisation of law, their embracement of Christianity, the division of state from church, the compromises of powers, the rising of Islam and the laying of the foundations of the Europe that we live in today.
If the subject is of interest you will find it an enriching experience.
Having read Byzantium from prof. Herrin, this book is written with the same passion and I can only speak of it in the most enthusiastic manner.
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Derek Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars Ravenna. Capital Of Late Antiquity: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe
Reviewed in Spain on September 29, 2020
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Excellent quality writing and excellently produced high quality book
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