The Cambridge Companion to THE AGE OF ATTILA S

1 The Cambridge Companion toTHE AGE OF ATTILASThis book examines the Age of ATTILA , roughly the fifth century CE, anera in which western Eurasia experienced significant geopolitical andcultural changes. The Roman Empire collapsed in western Europe,replaced by new barbarian kingdoms, but it continued in ChristianByzantine guise in the eastern Mediterranean. New states and peopleschanged the face of northern Europe where Rome had never ruled,while in Iran, the Sasanian Empire developed new theories of powerand government. At the same time, the great Eurasian steppe becameincreasingly important in European affairs. This book treats ATTILA , thenotorious king of the Huns, as both an agent of change and a symbolof the wreck of the old world Maas is Professor of History and Classical Studies at RiceUniversity. The focus of his research is late antiquity. His publicationsincludeThe Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian(2005);Exegesisand Empire in the Early Byzantine Mediterranean(2003); andReadings inLate Antiquity: A Sourcebook, second edition (2010).

2 In this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationThe Cambridge Companion toTHE AGE OFATTILASE dited byMichael MaasRice in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore information32 Avenue of the Americas, New York,ny 10013-2473,usaCambridge University Press is part of the University of furthers the University s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit ofeducation, learning, and research at the highest international levels of on this title: Cambridge University Press2015 This publication is in copyright.

3 Subject to statutory exceptionand to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,no reproduction of any part may take place without the writtenpermission of Cambridge University published2015 Printed in the United States of AmericaA catalog record for this publication is available from the British of Congress Cataloging in Publication DataThe Cambridge Companion to the Age of ATTILA / Michael Maas, Rice cm. ( Cambridge companions to the ancient world)Includes bibliographical references and 978-1-107-02175-4(hardcover) isbn 978-1-107-63388-9(pbk.)1. ATTILA , Huns Rome History Empire,284 476. I. Maas,Michael,1951 editor, author. II. Title: Age of 2014937 .09 dc232014009752isbn 978-1-107-02175-4 Hardbackisbn 978-1-107-63388-9 PaperbackCambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy ofurlsforexternal or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does notguarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain.

4 Accurate or in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationIN MEMORIAMTHOMAS SIZGORICH1970 in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationContentsSText FigurespagexiList of MapsxiiContributorsxiiiPreface and AcknowledgmentsxvChronologyxviiList of AbbreviationsxixPart i: The Roman Empire1 Reversals of Fortune: An Overview of theAge of Attila3 MICHAEL MAAS2 Government and Mechanisms of Control,East and West26 GEOFFREY GREATREX3 Urban and Rural Economies in the Age of Attila44 PETER SARRIS4 Mediterranean Cities in the Fifth Century: Elites,Christianizing, and the Barbarian Influx61 KENNETH G.

5 HOLUM5 Big Cities and the Dynamics of the Mediterraneanduring the Fifth Century80 RAYMOND VAN DAM6 Dynasty and Aristocracy in the Fifth Century98 BRIAN CROKE7 Military Developments in the Fifth Century125 HUGH in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationContents8 Law and Legal Culture in the Age of Attila140 CAROLINE HUMFRESS9 Romanness in the Age of Attila156 JONATHAN P. CONANTPart ii: ATTILA and the World aroundRome10 The Steppe World and the Rise of the Huns175 ETIENNE DE LA VAISSI`ERE11 Neither Conquest Nor Settlement: ATTILA s Empireand Its Impact193 CHRISTOPHER KELLY12 The Huns and Barbarian Europe209 PETER J. HEATHER13 Captivity among the Barbarians and Its Impacton the Fate of the Roman Empire230 NOEL LENSKI14 Migrations, Ethnic Groups, and State Building247WA LT E R P O H L15 Kingdoms of North Africa264 ANDY MERRILLS16 The Reinvention of Iran: The Sasanian Empireand the Huns282 RICHARD PAYNEPart iii: Religious and CulturalTransformation17 Ascetics and Monastics in the Early Fifth Century303 SUSANNA ELM18 Religious Doctrine and Ecclesiastical Change in theTime of Leo the Great327 SUSAN in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationContents19 Christian Sermons against Pagans: The Evidencefrom Augustine sSermonson the New Year and onthe Sack of Rome in410344 MICHELE RENEE SALZMAN20 Mediterranean Jews in a Christianizing Empire358 JOSEPH E.

6 SANZO AND RA ANAN BOUSTAN21 Ordering Intellectual Life376E DWA R D WAT T S22 Real and Imagined Geography394 SCOTT F. JOHNSON23 Selected Ancient Sources414 MAYA in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationText Beth Shean, Israel. Map of central areashowing monumental construction or reconstructionof the later fourth through early sixth , Algeria. House of Bacchus, withmulti-apsed dining room of the fourth early banquet, mosaic pavement from a cemeterynear Antioch, Syria, dated of Theodosius of Valentinian of of Leo and of of the Ostrogothic king A, on the Djebel Lakhdar near modernTiaret, Algeria, fifth in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationList of MapsS1 Eurasia in the Age of Attilapagexxv2 Central Asiaxxvi3 The Iranian Worldxxvii4aThe Roman Empire and Its Neighbors (The West)xxviii4bThe Roman Empire and Its Neighbors (The East)

7 Xxix5aThe Western Roman Empire Eastern Roman Empire North Africa in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationContributorsSRA ANAN BOUSTANis Associate Professor of History, University ofCalifornia, Los P. CONANTis Assistant Professor of History, CROKEis Adjunct Professor of History, Macquarie University,and Honorary Associate, University of ELMis Professor of History and Classics, University ofCalifornia, ELTONis Professor of Ancient History and Classics, GREATREXis Professor, Department of Classics andReligious Studies, University of J. HEATHERis Professor of Medieval European History, King sCollege, G. HOLUMis Professor of History, University of Mary-land, College HUMFRESSis Professor of History, Birkbeck College,University of F. JOHNSONis Dumbarton Oaks Teaching Fellow inByzantine Greek, Georgetown KELLYis a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationContributors ETIENNE DE LA VAISSI`EREis Professor of Central Asian MedievalHistory, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, LENSKIis Associate Professor of Classics, University MAASis Professor of History and Classical Studies, MASKARINECis a candidate in the History Department,University of California, Los Angeles, and a Fellow in Mediaeval Studiesat the American Academy in MERRILLSis Senior Lecturer in Ancient History, Universityof PAYNEis Assistant Professor of Ancient Near Eastern His-tory, The Oriental Institute, University of LT E R P O H Lis Professor of Medieval History, University of Vienna.

8 And Director of the Institute of Medieval Research at the AustrianAcademy of RENEE SALZMANis Professor of History, University ofCalifornia, E. SANZOis a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in ComparativeReligion, Hebrew University of SARRISis Reader in Late Roman, Medieval, and ByzantineHistory and Fellow of Trinity College, University of VAN DAMis Professor of History, University of DWA R D WAT T Sis Professor of History, University of California, WESSELis Associate Professor of Theology and ReligiousStudies, Catholic University of in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationPreface andAcknowledgmentsSThe Age of ATTILA , which lasted from the late fourth through theearly sixth century CE, witnessed manifold changes in westernEurasia. During this transformative era, the peoples and politiesof the greater Roman Mediterranean world, northern Europe, theIranian realm, and the Eurasian steppe itself took new forms and foundnew voices.

9 Alterations in the geopolitical map across this broad horizonwere more than matched by profound internal changes in cultural,religious, economic, and political life. ATTILA , the king of the Huns whoterrified Europe in the middle of the fifth century, stands as an emblemof this turbulent period and gives this volume its title. Although Attilawas indisputably a significant figure, this book is not about him or evenabout the kingdom of the Huns, though their presence is felt throughoutthe pages that follow. Instead, this volume provides a provocative newoverview of the long fifth century, largely from a Roman perspective,by introducing many different vectors of Cambridge Companion to the Age of Attilais intended for anAnglophone university audience, students and specialists alike. Thecontributors strove to make their discussions accessible to a more generalreadership as well. Consequently, English translations of most ancientsources will be found in the bibliography, and secondary sources inother languages have been kept to an essential minimum.

10 At all times,interested readers will be guided to further reading. A chronology ofimportant events mentioned in the volume is found at the beginningof the volume in the Chronology, and thumbnail sketches of the mainancient authors, and modern translations of their works into English,are provided in Selected Ancient is a most pleasant duty to thank colleagues and friends whoseencouragement and assistance contributed greatly to the making ofthis book. Beatrice Rehl, now Director of Publishing, Humanities, atCambridge University Press deserves pride of place for in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-1-107-02175-4 - The Cambridge Companion to the Age of AttilaEdited by Michael MaasFrontmatterMore informationPreface and Acknowledgmentsthe volume as a partner toThe Cambridge Companion to the Age ofConstantineandThe Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian,whichare its bookends. She was also a source of limitless calm and practicaladvice, especially at a time of transition at the Press, as was Asya Graf,Editor, Archaeology and Renaissance Studies, who expertly saw themanuscript through submission and production.