428 AD: An Ordinary Year at the End of the Roman Empire

by Giusto Traina, Averil Cameron (Preface)

This is a sweeping tour of the Mediterranean world from the Atlantic to Persia during the last half-century of the Roman Empire. By focusing on a single year not overshadowed by an epochal event, 428 AD provides a truly fresh look at a civilization in the midst of enormous change--as Christianity takes hold in rural areas across the empire, as western Roman provinces fall away from those in the Byzantine east, and as power shifts from Rome to Constantinople. Taking readers on a journey through the region, Giusto Traina describes the empires' people, places, and events in all their simultaneous richness and variety. The result is an original snapshot of a fraying Roman world on the edge of the medieval era. The result is an original snapshot of a fraying Roman world on the edge of the medieval era.


Readers meet many important figures, including the Roman general Flavius Dionysius as he encounters a delegation from Persia after the Sassanids annex Armenia; the Christian ascetic Simeon Stylites as he stands and preaches atop his column near Antioch; the eastern Roman emperor Theodosius II as he prepares to commission his legal code; and Genseric as he is elected king of the Vandals and begins to turn his people into a formidable power. We are also introduced to Pulcheria, the powerful sister of Theodosius, and Galla Placidia, the queen mother of the western empire, as well as Augustine, Pope Celestine I, and nine-year-old Roman emperor Valentinian III.


Full of telling details, 428 AD illustrates the uneven march of history. As the west unravels, the east remains intact. As Christianity spreads, pagan ideas and schools persist. And, despite the presence of the forces that will eventually tear the classical world apart, Rome remains at the center, exerting a powerful unifying force over disparate peoples stretched across the Mediterranean.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Roman History, Read For School, Ancient, Italy

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2007

About the author

Giusto Traina is a prominent Italian ancient historian and Byzantinist. Since 2011 he has been professor of Roman history at Sorbonne Université, and a former senior member of the Institut Universitaire de France. He is the author of numerous books and articles.

Reviews

[Bob Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rome Wasn’t Crushed in a Day

Historian Giusto Traina’s work is translated from Italian. No doubt it is based on a very original idea, that is, to take a single year in Roman history and describe as far as possible what was going on. He chose the year 428 A.D. because there were few major events, making it just “an ordinary year”. He takes readers on a trip around the whole Roman world or what had been the Roman world, from Armenia through Anatolia, Byzantium, Italy, France, England, Spain, North Africa, and back to Egypt and Palestine. The last chapter, perhaps the most interesting to me, looks at the Persian Empire under the Sassanians. All these chapters reveal how the idea of Rome, in its eastern and western forms in 428, still resonated throughout the area. Barbarians had long since invaded, sacked cities, and then adopted Roman cultural and political features. Christianity was pervasive, but pagans and Jews still held out. Many “heresies” had arisen. There had been no sudden demise of Rome. The fabled “fall of the Roman Empire” is more or less a fairy tale for school textbooks---a date for teachers to ask on quizzes. Rome declined slowly over centuries, in many ways in its different parts.

This is a short work, but of immense scholarship with a rare sweeping view of the whole Mediterranean world and beyond. Why have I given it only three stars then? That has to do with readability. Records from that time are predictably scarce. Most of what we have comes from ecclesiastical sources, thus a lot of what Traina can report has to do with church politics, theological arguments, and the activities of members of the church hierarchy. While I agree that the author has “opened up” the fifth century as has seldom been done, giving readers a wide view of how the Roman Empire sloped down to the end in the West and shaped itself differently in the East, it is not easy reading for the non-academic. I found the unavoidable emphasis on church activities confusing and too narrow for what I had hoped to learn.

[Dvd (#) · Rating 2 out of 5]

27/10/2018 (**)

La scelta di dedicare un saggio storico a un anno qualunque, peraltro assai lontano e appartenente a un periodo la cui ricostruzione è resa difficoltosa dalla scarsità di fonti, può essere sia interessante che intelligente: penso e immagino perché può permettere di svincolarsi dalla narrazione degli eventi topici della storia, concentrarsi sul contesto e mostrare che la Storia non procede per singoli eventi (battaglie, trattati, morti, ecc) ma che questi sono punti di arrivo di un ben determinato andamento, immagini poste all'interno di una cornice che si può riassumere solo comprendendo anche tutti gli altri puntini da essa racchiusa e che a quelle immagini principali, a quei finali hanno portato, in maniera evidente o sottile, voluta o inaspettata.

Il problema rimane tuttavia sempre il solito: si deve raccontare di Storia, conoscere da dove veniamo è cosa fondamentale e qualunque cittadino dovrebbe in tal senso interessarsi, ma si deve anche raccontare in maniera tale da attirare l'attenzione del lettore, da coinvolgerne la mente e solleticarne la curiosità.
Purtroppo molti storici, pur se splendidi e competentissimi studiosi e umanisti, sono anche pessimi narratori. La maggior parte delle volte limitati da un autoreferenzialismo tipicamente accademico. Questo saggio non rientra in quest'ultima categoria, tuttavia. Non è scritto in maniera artatamente complicata, ma come un bigino segue piano e in maniera monotona i non-eventi dell'A.D. 428. Eventi che già di per sè, come da premessa, sono assolutamente marginali, e che quindi aiutano poco a coinvolgere il lettore: se ci si aggiunge una prosa terribilmente soporifera, il risultato è una breve lettura (circa 200 pagine, margini ampi e interlinea generosa) che passa fra uno sbadiglio e l'altro e fra continue distrazioni.

Aggiungo: il fatto che l'argomento principale del saggio sia la religione, e in particolare l'approfondimento delle infinite discussioni teologiche circa le eresie (moltissime) nate e sorte in quel periodo e tutto il loro contorno, ha ammazzato qualunque mio residuo interesse verso questo saggio. Se è pur vero che non si può non parlare della tarda romanità e del primo impero bizantino senza parlare di religione (cattolica e eresie affini), c'è modo e modo.

In sostanza, una delusione.

[Rui Valente · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's premise is to examine life and the state of the Roman Empire at a particular, normal year, of the late roman empire. I find the concept original: the book then provides an interesting and panoramic look of the Roman Empire, area by area, and also beyond.
Still, I was left wondering many times if I was reading a history of the state of early christianity in 428, and not one about the roman empire. I would have like to have learned more about Theodosius II dilemmas, Aetius, about the state of roman domination in the danubian Provinces, the empire's finances, the economy, the relations with barbarian groupings settled both inside and outside the empire. And if the author dedicates a chapter to Sassanid Persia, why not one on the german tribes?
Anyway, this is a good book. But it also seems like a lost opportunity.

[Daniel Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating tour of the Roman world in the year 428. I liked that the book drew from a variety of documents and archaeological evidence. I never realized just how religiously, ethnically, and linguistically diverse the population of the later Roman world was. The author takes us on a tour from Armenia, Syria and Anatolia, Constantinople, Italy, the Western provinces, the Vandal Kingdom in Spain and Africa, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Persia. The writing flows quickly and blends general overviews with tales of particular people. this book reawakened my love on Antiquity, and by the end I was hungry for more.

[Evan Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only on chapter two.
Another in a series of historians arguing with other historians in the pages of a book, but I'm gleaning what I can without the base of knowledge it assumes its readers have.

***

Well, I finished this last night and my initial impression was borne out.
This is not a book which a novice on the subject, such as myself, can expect to understand completely. The names of the people and the places is, in and of itself, bewildering and written for those already familiar with this era, which I am not.
I can see how this would be light reading for a graduate student of Roman studies or studying "late antiquity" as the author kept calling it.
Which is not to say I got nothing out of it.
As its title implied, it did give a rounded out sense of that time while deftly avoiding what I assume to be arguments among the experts about what action fit into what category in what period.
In fact, it gave me a rough sense of the trajectory of the Roman empire in this period and did a lot to help me understand how the stage was set for the Middle Ages.
In essence, it served as a good example of how Christianity co-opted the empire which was once its oppressor, and how the politics of that empire co-opted a movement which was once about love and helping one another and turned it into a method of political control.
Looking ahead to the centuries of church-dominated politics in Europe, it is easy to see why the Reformation happened, just makes me wonder why it took so long.
Also easy to see how Islam gained a foothold in the Arab, Asian and African places was as much about throwing off the political yoke of Christianity as it was about a new religion.
Sigh, the more things change....

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The format of this book is what makes it work: a tour of the Late Antique world, running widdershins from Armenia, to Constantinople, to western Europe, to north Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Persia. The snapshot of a single year sacrifices a sense of change over time for a view of the connections among contemporaneous figures who are usually studied as belonging to separate traditions. Given the approach, it's no surprise that the book lacks a strong narrative arc, and leaves a lot of loose ends. On the other hand, it introduces a variety of fascinating figures and explains their relations to another - and it does it in just 132 pages of text, with generous endnotes pointing towards more detailed books and journal articles.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Late antiquity is a period of history that tends to get short shrift in popular historical books, and as it is also an area that I have not as much familiarity with as I would like I thought it worthwhile to tackle Traina's text. Nominally taking a 'snapshot' of the Roman Empire in its transition from the earlier imperial period of the likes of Augustus, Diocletian and Constantine into the fragmented landscape of an eastern Byzantine sphere and 'barbarian' successor states in the west, '428 AD' is a useful peregrination through the political, social and religious changes that were in effect at this time. It is not a substantive history of what used to be called 'the fall of Rome'. Nor is it a detailed account of all the issues, problems and trends that were at play at the dawn of what some might consider the onset of the Middle Ages. Traina has written a complex and concise guide to how the pagan Roman empire that was all-powerful and all-encompassing up to the end of the fourth century CE was becoming both trying to stay the same yet also change in ways that would have been unimagined perhaps two or three generations beforehand.

That this text is concise and offers a singular narrative (i.e. the duality of stability and change in 5th Century Europe and the Mediterranean world) is both its strength and weakness. There is plenty of information presented to the reader, and for the most part it is provided in such a way that one can understand the central premise of Traina's thesis. The Roman Empire was seen contemporaneously in 428 CE as a viable, if complicated entity, and the representation of its end is to some extent anachronistic. It must be noted at this point that the title of this book does not serve the intent of the author well; Traina's depiction of the Roman 'world' is not doomed, not falling apart. In fact, through the combination of the growing power of Christianity, the integration of foederati peoples into the tapestry of Roman 'civilisation' and the continuing growth of the Eastern Empire focused on Constantinople, there is little to support the idea of a decline. The problems and challenges outlined in this text are perhaps no less threatening existentially as were those issues that beset the Roman empire in the Third and Fourth Century CE.

Such a nuanced and complex thesis may require a more substantive study than that offered in this text, though from my perspective I would argue that the author achieves his end admirably. It may be said that the reverse is the problem; Traina might have been even more successful if he hadn't attempted such an intricate construct for approaching the history of his selected period. Considering the emphasis on the growing power and schismatic changes of Christianity as the state religion, as outlined in his book, Traina could have focused on this area alone and perhaps achieved just as much. The same could be said of his consideration of provincial life in Gaul, or the relations between Sassanid Persia and Eastern Rome. The exploration of developments in Armenia and Persia are themselves hard to get one's head around, especially if the reader is a neophyte in these historical subjects. So much ground is covered by '428 AD' in such a short space that perhaps the reader will lose track of specific details and come away uncertain as to what happened according to Traina.

Be that as it may, one cannot argue with the author's scholarship. He has made a considerable effort at integrating literary evidence, often from sources that might not be familiar to the reader, as well as some archaeological and epigraphic evidence. Considering that approximately a third of the text is taken up with explanatory notes for his citations it would be a foolhardy critic that would tackle Traina on this front.

The prose is readable and whilst there is some usage of technical terms as well as foreign words from the ancient languages there should be little challenge for the (potential reader). It could be said that Traina relies on some degree of pre-existing knowledge in the book's audience, and that is not always a fair assumption. It might have been helpful for a listing of abbreviated biographies for key figures discussed in his text, however that is my personal supposition that could be rejected by other readers.

In summary '428 AD: An Ordinary Year at the End of the Roman Empire' is an informative, nuanced and well researched historical text that will provoke serious thought from its most receptive readers. It is certainly not a definitive book on its subject, however it might be hard to find a more concise study.

[Nancy Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting take on the changes taking place in the Roman Empire. The author highlights many factors of shifting social concerns. Definitely interesting!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was so special about 428 A.D.? According to historian Giusto Traina, that year represented perhaps the last time that both halves of the Roman Empire were able to act as one. In Constantinople, the throne was occupied by Theodosius II. From Ravenna, Valentinian III ruled the Western Empire. The Sassanid Empire (Persia) was ruled by the Zoroastrian Bahram V, who began the year by, in effect, moving Christian Armenia from the Roman sphere of influence into his own. In the other end of the Empire, the Vandals under Gaiseric prepared to migrate from Spain to North Africa, where they threatened Roman agricultural holdings.

The Empire was no predominately Christian, with most of the historical literature coming from bishops, monks, and theologians and from such unlikely sources as lives of saints. Augustine of Hippo was still alive, but not for much longer. The Church was more tolerant in some parts of the Empire than others. It was fighting a battle of souls in Egypt, which was threatened from the south by Pagan hoards.

Around the northern borders of Europe, the Huns were lurking, but not under the leadership of Attila. The Roman general Aetius was probably the Empire's greatest military leader, but he had not yet defeated Attila at Chalons-sur-Marne: That was to come in 451 A.D.

Traina manages to deal with a difficult subject matter in a way that is both scholarly and readable. He organizes the book by region and provides useful maps to guide the reader. (By this time, many place names had changed.) His particular contribution was to deal with the Roman Empire and Sassanid Persia at the same time, showing how the Eastern Empire could not but fear another confrontation with the Persians, who at this time were on the rise.

In all, 428 A.D. is a useful book for those, who, like me, are fascinated with the later Empire.

[Katharine Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traina's basic concept works very well. In a series of short chapters he takes the reader on a quick trip around the Mediterranean world in Late Antiquity that gives the "feel" of the political situation at the time. He tucks a lot of interesting details into his presentation as well, including a fascinating glimpse of the Sassanid Empire, a subject too often left out of studies of the Graeco-Roman world.
The translation, however, is a problem. Some sentences simply don't make sense. A couple of passages from books published in English appear to have been re-Englished from Traina's Italian rather than quoted directly from the original. My usual standard for translations in this subject area is the phrase "miles gloriosus" in reference to the Plautine character. (He always seems to show up somewhere!) In this case, the mistake is obvious - it's translated as "glorious soldier" instead of "braggart soldier."
I could have used a formal bibliography instead of references left in the copious notes, but that's just a minor quibble. Overall, the book is well worth reading and is, in fact, downright enjoyable.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author picks an "ordinary" year to present a survey of the Roman Empire about 50 years prior to its "end". The author notes that this year had a singular exception to its ordinariness, which is the fall of Armenia. The survey is organized around regions which show a few of the fissures that were soon to crack or crumble.

My knowledge of people and ethnic groups is limited so a lot of this did not stay with me. The maps helped as did some of the descriptions of individuals.

This is an interesting format and suggests a series, a look at this Empire (and others), in the this type of survey manner every 50 years. For this and other books to appreciated for the general audience, more context is needed.

[Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but eloquent study of what the author calls "an ordinary year at the end of the Roman Empire." He starts in Armenia, and circles the Mediterranean in a counter-clockwise direction, using obscure but telling events and personalities to tell the story of a varied and quite dynamic Empire, challenged but far from over, and the complicated ways "barbarians" had become a part of the imperial future. For anyone interested in late antique Rome, or in the background of Augustine of Hippo's "City of God," I think this book is a must-read.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the state of affairs and events in the late Roman Empire focusing on the year 428. We see the personalities, the political and religious goings on, and more.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very enjoyable one to read, and followed the pattern of a few books that view a particular time rather than a particular person as the context in which to organize a work of history [1].  This is an approach I enjoyed here, and definitely one that I will have to explore more in the future, as it allows a writer to pursue various threads of material at the same time that share a context even if they are usually viewed together.  As a way of joining together material that is largely unknown and often viewed in isolation, this approach to historical context is a worthy one in that it provides the opportunity for insight by seeing the same facts in a different way.  Although I am not familiar with any of the author's other work, this book is definitely one I recommend if you have an interest in the problems of late antiquity concerning the fall of the Western Roman empire as well as concerning the question of continuity between the late Roman world and the one that followed it in the European and Mediterranean worlds.

This book of just more than 100 pages is divided into eleven chapters that look at what was going on in 428AD in various parts of the world in and around the Roman Empire.  After a preface, acknowledgements, and introduction, we look at the travels of one obscure Flavius Dionysius and the end of the independent kingdom of Armenia, which was at that time integrated, at least somewhat, into the Persian empire, which signified a geopolitical defeat to Rome that was largely ignored by the historians and commentators of the time (1).  We then see this same gentleman escort one Nestorius to become the Patriarch of Constantinople, which leads to his fall and to the discrediting of his views about the nature of Christ (2).  The author then explores the path between Antioch and Constantinople and the local issues and banditry faced in the area (3) as well as the oriential and ceremonial monarchy being created in Constantinople at the time (4).  We move to the anatomy of an empire and look at how the internal reunification of Rome under the same dynasty was conducted at the cost of a lack of ability to engage with the outside world in the same way (5).  The author looks at Italy in transition through the rise of Ravenna (6) and examines the behavior of Franks, Visigoths, and generals like Aetius as serving as trial runs for the Middle Ages (7) when viewed in hindsight.  There is a poignant chapter about North Africa in the period just before the conquest of the Vandals (8), the interaction between pagans and Christians in Egypt (9), the poignant loss of the Jewish patriarchate in Jerusalem (10) and the strength of Persia (11) and its own robust self-confidence during this era.

Admittedly, 428 is not a very famous year, but its very ordinary qualities allow the author to find its incidents worthy of note.  The author pays a great deal of attention not merely to massive battles but also to issues of demography, ceremony, diplomacy, and religious history.  As someone with an interest in these subjects, the vignettes included here provide the reader with a great degree of interesting material that is worthwhile for readers to examine so that they may better recognize the larger trends that were operating even during years when it appeared little was going on in the outside world.  The refusal to replace a Jewish patriarch and the fall of the Armenian king had consequences and repercussions that lasted for a long time, and the conflict between Rome and its imperial governor in North Africa made the territory especially vulnerable to the Vandal conquest that would come soon, a conquest that would greatly endanger Rome by jeopardizing its food supply.  Likewise, the conflict over Nestorius' beliefs as well as the rise of asceticism in the Middle East and increasingly Europe was also interconnected with the political malaise of the time, all of which the author graciously allows the reader to connect through his command of source material and his skillful prose.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

[Augustine Kobayashi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very useful book for students of late Roman, late antique or Byzantine history, with a focus on what was going on in the East. This isn't for anyone who knows little about the history of the Roman Empire after 476 when the focal point of imperial affairs was firmly in the East. Without the knowledge of what was about to happen, the reader might have difficulties in understanding what Guisto is trying to say in a larger context. And he's not talking about the 476. Perhaps he should have explained that eventually, Rome and Persia would go to a full-scale war in the 7th century, laying the ground for the rise of Islam and the coming of the medieval world that shaped Europe and the Middle East as we know them.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book is a view of the state of the Christian church at the time, with some secondary politics as well. I was expecting more of a day-to-day life presentation, sadly barely touched upon. The last few chapters do cover politics and government a bit more, but by then it was just getting through to finish this short work. Reads like an academic paper on Roman history, wouldn't call it general interest at all. Three stars as it's a solid academic look at the year, if that's what you want.

[Martinocorre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abbastanza insolito ma accattivante questo modo "orizzontale" per parlare di storia focalizzandosi su un anno solo, il 428 d.C., un anno in teoria "ordinario" ma in realtà molto interessante perché relativo ad uno dei periodi di transizione più importanti della storia dell'umanità, l'Impero Romano è al suo tramonto ed il Medioevo si prepara ad uscire da dietro le quinte.

[Sandor-Martin Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the tour de force through the Empire and its neighbours, but it felt a bit rushed. Nobody would have complained if it would have been 20% longer, but had more details. The flow of the chapters would have been easier to follow.
Nevertheless it is an important work for understanding the 5th century in the Mediteranean and I highly recomment it.

[Ron Groves · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult read for me - not for the leisure time read.

[Alessandro Nicolai · Rating 3 out of 5]

In generale interessante, spazia su vari argomenti tutti molto sentiti del periodo della tarda antichità, facina panoaica completa di quello che era l ormai morente impero romano in quegli anni

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Stuart]

Interesting to read a sweeping description circling the empire for one year. I could have used more context, and more detail here and less detail there.

[Harry Maier · Rating 3 out of 5]

428 offers a snapshot of the Roman Empire in the year Nestorius was elevated to Patriarch of Constantinople by Theodosius II. The author takes us on a tour of the Empire with a chapter dedicated to each geographical region moving counter-clockwise from Byzantium and ending with Sassanid Persia. In each case there is a interesting account of the geopolitics of the area as well as its history from roughly the start of the Theodosian dynasty onward. The picture presented is one in which the traditional territories of the Roman Empire are complexly interwoven despite the fact of "barbarian" incursions in the western half of the Empire, especially from 408 onward. Usually the narrative moves along quickly though at times it gets bogged down in lists of names and dates. Especially intriguing is the treatment of the Sassanids and their gravitational pull on the Empire.

428 at first glance is an odd year to select for a review of the Roman Empire. FOr example, one could have chosen 431 (the year of the Council of Ephesus), or even 451 (the year of the Council of Chalcedon). But 428 has been chosen well for a study since Nestorius' elevation marks the calm before the storm that would ultimately end in a misbegotten COuncil (the co-called Robber Synod of 449), a council unrecognized by more radical elements in both East and West (Chalcedon), and thus divide Christendom, as well as mark strong divides in the Empire that became ever more dramatic upon the death of Theodosius II in 450.

I was left wanting to hear more about Pulcheria, Theodosius II's sister. SInce she notoriously promoted a cult of Mary in which she placed statues of herself alongside of the Virgin, and thus capitalized politically on popular devotion to Mary as Theotokos, it was disappointing that there was not more of an account of Nestorius' political (as well as theological) concerns with the Empress and the larger urban context of Marian devotion. Further while Galla Placida is mentioned her political and theological contributions are not given enough discussion. Finally, Cyril of Alexandria's patriarchate, his desire to settle old scores with Constantinople, and the power he exerted over the political machinery of Alexandria could have been given the colourful representation they deserve. The election of the uncompromising and politically inept Nestorius gave Cyril the chance he was waiting for to set the record straight on a variety of issues, but the patriarch seems to pass by without much notice.

This is a book for non-specialists despite the fact that 60% of it is taken up with footnotes (mostly of non-English studies or curiously English works that are cited in translation). I would recommend reading Philip Jenkins' Jesus Wars in tandem with this book. Jenkins' account offers an account in many ways more readable but less erudite than 428. To be fair, Jenkins is not an expert in the field and his narrative also takes up a vastly larger canvas. But together the books offer a fascinating account of a strange and exotic world whose controversies spilled over into geopolitics and resulted in the map of Europe and set the stage for the sweep of Islam through the east and North Africa, as well as southern Spain.

[Anatolikon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traina's '428 AD' takes a look at the late Roman world of the fifth century, particularly zooming in on one year, 428. The book starts on the eastern periphery in Armenia, with its fall to the Sassanid Persians. Traina then moves west, going first to Antioch and Syria before moving on to Constantinople, Italy, Gaul, Spain, Africa, Egypt, and back to Palestine. The last chapter deals with what happened in Sassanid Persia in the 420s and 430s. In this manner, Traina manages to do an entire sweep of the Mediterranean world while giving some attention to the areas beyond the borders, particularly to Persia and the southern areas of Egypt, although the lands beyond the Rhine frontier are conspicuously absent. Local maps highlighting the places discussed in each chapter are provided, which aids the understanding of what Traina chooses to discuss. The choice of subject matter is broad and varied, from high politics to religion to barbarians, and sometimes all three together.

While this is a decent book, I will fully admit that I did not particularly enjoy it. For a book that clearly targets a popular audience given the price point, short chapters, lack of real analysis, and maps that take up a surprising number of pages, this book is remarkably dense. I really like the concept of taking a single, not particularly exceptional year near the end of the Roman Empire in the west and seeing how things were in different geographical regions. The problem is that for a popular work, Traina never makes the world feel alive. His writing is generally quite dry. Given that the publisher allowed for extremely generous end notes (just under 50 pages), one would think that Traina could leave some of the less relevant details there and concentrate on giving the world some colour. It would have been far more interesting, for example in the chapter entitled 'Waiting on the Vandals' to describe Roman Africa from the eyes of Augustine and fill in the details. By leaning on Augustine, the little bits of the late Roman world that provide life to Augustine's world would have made Traina's book far more interesting. Instead, we have generally dry descriptions of how the Roman world was in 428. I read a lot of academic books on late Rome/Byzantium so I'm used to dry writing. I did not find this book difficult to get through. However, I can see the target audience quitting before the end despite the brevity of this work and not wanting to return to the fifth century, since this book does not make it seem as fascinating as it is.

[Frédéric Bey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avec 428, Giusto Traina nous entraine dans un long périple, tout autour de la Mare Nostrum, au cœur de toutes les provinces d’un empire qui se réclame d’être encore universellement romain. Les mentalités, les grands personnages, les querelles religieuses qui accompagnent le triomphe du christianisme et les quelques événements marquant d’une année ordinaire du Ve siècle sont dépeints dans le livre avec précision et érudition. L’empereur Théodose II, sa femme Eudoxie, sa sœur Pulchérie, Syméon le Saint ermite perché sur sa colonne, Aetius et Galla Placida, Saint Augustin, Genséric ou encore le roi des rois Varham V sont les représentants les plus emblématiques d’une époque complexe, celle d’un monde en pleine mutation, au bord du gouffre à mains égards, mais encore soudé par une la puissance d’une romanité déjà vieille de 1181 années. La chronique de cette année 428 est très agréable à lire, écrite dans un style précis et vivant est souvent étonnante mais manque néanmoins parfois de souffle. A lire comme un guide touristique d’un véritable voyage dans le temps.

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice overview of the goings-on in the Roman Empire in the year 428 AD. Since I'm not a history professor, I had no idea who 75% of the people were or what significance they had in what would happen to the Roman Empire as it fell apart. Still, the details with this "year in review" made up for my amateur historian status. When the author would debate theories of other historians, my eyes would just scan until I found something else interesting to read. Doing that, it's short enough to read in a few hours.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good starter book for this era, but also fun for those of us who know more. Instead of the 'did Rome fall' controversy, Traina takes us on a tour through the Roman Empire and edges at just about the last time it was the whole Roman Empire. (Britain and northern France had already been evacuated, and various Germanic tribes held Spain and southwestern France, but people (merchants and priests mostly) could still travel fairly easily through the whole area.) Each chapter covers one area. Traina discusses a bit of the past and future so a reader can get situated.

[Alxandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

428 AD provides a snapshot of history. Instead of describing all of the befores and afters at the same time, this book filters the decline of Roman Empire through the view point of one year, 428 AD.

I have to agree with other reviewers that this book is not particularly user friendly for Roman history neophytes. It took some persistence to stay with the book at its beginning, but as I warmed up to the book, I really wanted to find out what happens next.

After finishing this book, I want to know more about Roman history, Neoplatonic philosophy, Islam, and I could go on.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fun to have Armenians, Sogdians, Blemmyans, and Vandals all showing up in the same book. I never knew what he was going to tell me next, but there was a lot of fascinating material to make up for the lack of sustained argument. He didn't seem to know what to think of the barbarian migrations-- whether it was a lot of people migrating, or everybody just staying put, changing names and clothes. That's a tangled mess, but it's sort of his job to figure it out.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a unique approach, Traina examines Late Antiquity through the lens of a single year in the Fifth Century. In what first appear to be an unrelated set narratives, the reader follows several figures and events, garnering a sense of life in the Roman Empire and throughout the Mediterranean world. Traina demonstrates that, far from an age of malaise and decay, the "twilight" years of Rome were in fact a vibrant and active time. I recommend this to anyone with a love of classical history.