This seminal work offers a comprehensive survey of the history of civilization in the fifth century, including the rise of Christianity, the collapse of the Roman Empire, and the emergence of new political and cultural forces. The author provides detailed descriptions of the major events and trends of the period, and offers insightful analysis of their significance. With a focus on intellectual history and cultural exchange, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Western civilization. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.