Late antiquity

Late Antiquity is a period in European and Mediterranean history. It starts around the end of the 3rd century AD and ends between the 6th and 8th centuries, depending on the region. This period is between Classical antiquity (Ancient Greece and Rome) and the Middle Ages.

When did Late Antiquity happen?

There is no exact date for the start or end. Most historians agree it began around 284 AD, when Emperor Diocletian ruled the Roman Empire. Some say it ended in:

• 476 AD, when the Western Roman Empire fell,
• 565 AD, when Emperor Justinian died,
• Or even 750 AD, when the Abbasid dynasty took over in the Islamic world.

Where did it happen?

Late Antiquity took place in the lands around the Mediterranean Sea, including:

• Europe (especially Italy, France, Spain, and the Balkans),
• The Middle East (like Syria and Palestine),
• North Africa (like Egypt and Carthage).

What happened during this time?

Big political changes

The Roman Empire was divided into two parts: West and East.

The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 AD.

The Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire and lasted much longer.

New Germanic kingdoms formed in the West (like the Franks and Visigoths).

Religion

Christianity became the main religion of the Roman Empire.

There were many arguments about Christian beliefs.

Church buildings, symbols, and religious art became more common.

Other religions like Judaism and Islam also developed during this time.

Society and daily life

Many people moved from the cities to the countryside.

Trade became harder because of wars and invasions.

New tools, ships, and farming methods were invented.

Rich and poor people had very different lives.

Art and culture

Christian art became popular: mosaics, icons, and church paintings.

People made ivory carvings, religious lamps, and beautiful books.

Art from this time was more symbolic and less realistic than earlier Roman art.

The Byzantine style started to develop.

Army and defense

The Roman army was changed to defend against Germanic invasions.

Forts and walls were built around cities.

Constantinople (now Istanbul) became a strong capital.

Learning and knowledge

Even though the Roman Empire was falling in the West, people still studied and wrote books.

Monks copied old texts, helping save Greek and Roman knowledge.

This knowledge was later used in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Modern studies

Historians today say that Late Antiquity was not just a time of decline, but also a time of change and growth. People today study it to understand:

• The end of the Roman Empire,
• The start of Christian Europe,
• The roots of Islamic and Jewish traditions,
• How old knowledge was saved and passed on.

There are groups like the Association for Late Antiquity and journals like Antiquité Tardive that help people study and learn more about this time.