内容简介
AmmianusMarcellinuswasthelastgreatRomanhistorian,andhiswritingsrankalongsidethoseofLivyandTacitus.TheLaterRomanEmpirechroniclesaperiodoftwenty-fiveyearsduringMarcellinus'ownlifetime,coveringthereignsofConstantius,Julian,Jovian,ValentinianI,andValens,andprovidingeyewitnessaccountsofsignificantmilitaryeventsincludingtheBattleofStrasbourgandtheGoth'sRevolt.Portrayingatimeofrapidanddramaticchange,MarcellinusdescribesanEmpireexhaustedbyexcessivetaxation,corruption,thefinancialruinofthemiddleclassesandtheprogressivedeclineinthemoraleofthearmy.InthismagisterialdepictionoftheclosingdecadesoftheRomanEmpire,wecanseetheseedsofeventsthatweretoleadtothefallofthecity,justtwentyyearsafterMarcellinus'death.