Episode Details

These academic sources from the *Journal of Late Antiquity* examine distinct facets of Roman life and governance during the fourth century. The first article provides a detailed military analysis of the Battle of Adrianople, arguing that political pressure and faulty intelligence led Emperor Valens to a catastrophic defeat against the Goths. It reconstructs the tactical errors of the engagement, emphasizing how Roman decision-making failed to account for the arrival of Gothic cavalry. Conversely, the second source is a book review of Blake Leyerle’s study on domestic Christian rituals in Antioch. This text explores John Chrysostom’s efforts to transform the private home into a sacred space through prayer, scripture study, and the rejection of secular amulets. Together, the sources illustrate the internal social shifts and external military pressures defining the later Roman Empire.