The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown

This was an easy to read book about the history of the Roman empire from about 200 C.E. to about 700 C.E.  It deals with the period that leads up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ends with the end of the Persian Empire and the rise of Islam.  It is a point in history that had a big effect upon Western Culture to this day.  It was the time of the neo-Platonist who would preserve the writings of the Greek philosophers that would eventually have a big impact upon the Renaissance.  It was also at this time in 312 that Constantine joined in the cause of Christianity which turned this small despised religion into the religion of over half the Roman Empire by the time of his death and would become the religion of the western world.  To me it is a fascinating time in world history, one that I did not know much about.  this book has given me a good overall picture of the time and place.