This chapter examines pottery in Late Antiquity, with a particular focus on chronology and the economic and social significance of pottery across the Mediterranean. It analyses various categories of ceramics, including fine wares, coarse wares, amphorae and lamps, using typological classification, archaeometry and distribution patterns to trace their evolution from the third to the seventh century. At the heart of the discussion is the argument that late antique pottery serves as a key indicator of economic and cultural continuity rather than decline. The study highlights the dominance of African Red Slip Ware (ARS) in the Western Mediterranean, charting its peak production and widespread distribution from the late third to the seventh century. It also explores how ARS workshops in Carthage and Byzacena continued to innovate, introducing new forms and Christian motifs to adapt to changing political landscapes. Expanding on regional variations, the chapter also examines how eastern Mediterranean fine wares experienced a later resurgence, with Cypriot and Phocaean Red Slip Wares becoming more prominent in the fifth and sixth centuries. By demonstrating how amphora production patterns reflect shifts in trade networks and agricultural production, particularly in the transport of wine, oil and fish products, the chapter documents the vital role of pottery in understanding economic and social transformations in Late Antiquity.

Between 1921 and 1924 Edgar was in Baghdad, and Winifred in St Albans. Through Edgar’s eyes, we see Baghdad during the tense early years of the British ‘mandate’ in Iraq. Now a company director, Edgar’s talents were exploited by Baghdad elites, co-opting him as an ‘agent of imperialism’, as Britain dominated the new Iraqi constitutional monarchy, while the Baghdad Anglican church used him to run its new parish. Through Winifred’s eyes, her public profile flowering, we see her expatriate adjustment to middle-class suburban life, with two stepsons and two daughters occasioning stepmothering anxiety. Immersed in the local Anglican church and feminist organisations such as the National Council of Women, alongside the local Conservative association, her conservative politics co-existed with progressive and cosmopolitan social attitudes. The love correspondence is integral to their expatriate identity, with insights into early twentieth-century middle-class marital sexuality, explicit details of a playful sexual relationship underpinned by spirituality, and a description of consensual birth-control practices. Winifred’s sudden departure to join Edgar in Baghdad, placing two young daughters, unhappily, in a small, boarding school, marked the urgency of their passion, but also the strength of a companionate marriage, a product of shared expatriate experience.

This chapter explores dress and furnishing textiles in Late Antiquity, examining their materials, production techniques and cultural significance in both everyday and elite settings. It argues that textile production was a major sector of the late Roman economy, with fabrics sourced from across the empire and beyond, including silk from the East and high-quality linen from Egypt. This study also investigates how political and social changes influenced fashion, with garments reflecting shifts in identity, status and religious affiliation. A major challenge in studying textiles from this period is the fragmentary nature of surviving garments and the difficulty of matching literary descriptions to actual finds, a concern the chapter addresses in detail. A significant focus is placed on the emergence of Christian liturgical dress, tracing how bishops and clergy gradually adopted distinct garments, such as the dalmatica and pallium, to signal their ecclesiastical roles. The discussion concludes with an examination of furnishing textiles, including wall hangings and upholstery, which played a crucial role in interior decoration. By integrating diverse sources, the chapter demonstrates that textiles were not only practical necessities but also important cultural and economic markers in Late Antiquity.

Conservative myths that justify cutting taxes, especially for the rich and big corporations, persist despite being deeply flawed theoretically and empirically. Why? They resonate with people’s assumptions that human nature is all about pursuing self-interest and that government is a predatory Leviathan intent on maximizing tax revenues in its own self-interest. Sometimes this is true, but evidence suggests that often it is not. Additionally, the conservative myths are ambiguous and flexible, so conservatives can twist them in many ways to support their tax-cutting efforts. They are also simple and easier for the average American to understand than other approaches to tax policy. Huge sums of money are spent propagating these myths through lobbying, political campaigns, think tanks, media, and educational institutions. The visibility of progressive income taxes and the invisibility of regressive taxes and the hidden welfare state make it easy to claim that taxes are unfair to those at the top.

This chapter explores the economy of the later Roman Empire, with special emphasis on resource management, economic structures and regional variations. It highlights how land, labour and capital functioned within a largely agrarian system, with agriculture serving as the primary economic driver and tax base. The chapter examines diverse sources, including archaeological surveys, historical texts, coinage and environmental data. It analyses the effects of political instability, regional differentiation and resource distribution on economic trends. Case studies from North Gaul, Iberia, Italy and the Eastern Mediterranean reveal that economic activity was influenced by both local conditions and imperial policies. The study also incorporates ecological data, such as pollen analysis and lead pollution levels, to assess economic fluctuations. A central argument is that the later Roman economy was not a uniform system but a collection of interconnected regional economies. While political fragmentation led to economic contractions in some areas, others adapted through local specialisation and changing trade networks. This study thus challenges the view of economic collapse, instead emphasising resilience and adaptation, and calling for an interdisciplinary approach to better understand the complexities of late Roman economic life and its long-term transformations.

In the final chapter, I offer some concluding reflections. First, I show that party-building experience by the CCP and the KMT during their violent struggles cast a long shadow on political development in mainland China and Taiwan after 1949, respectively. I illustrate that CCP elites developed strong preferences for a strong leader because Mao’s domination revived the CCP. In addition, the CCP frequently employed the same tactics in of mobilized compliance to implement unpopular policies after 1949, a practice that ultimately hindered the institutionalization of China’s political system. Meanwhile, the KMT leaders recognized the superior organization of the CCP as a decisive factor in its downfall. As a result, the KMT shifted its focus toward fostering elite cohesion and grassroots party structures in Taiwan. Although this strategy initially bore fruit for the KMT’s power consolidation in Taiwan, the party still relied on elite mobilization infrastructure for societal penetration. The KMT’s clientelistic machine eventually broke down when Taiwan democratized, losing its power monopoly to the Democratic Progressive Party. Finally, I revisit the seemingly miraculous reversal of fortune of the CCP and the KMT, highlighting both leadership domination and resource mobilization as the key foundations of powerful revolutionary parties. I further underscore the significance of contingencies in comprehending the political evolution of revolutionary parties.

This chapter examines the urban evolution of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, focusing on their transformation from classical urban centres to more utilitarian and fortified settlements. It argues that rather than experiencing outright decline, cities in the East adapted to changing political, economic and religious realities. Archaeological evidence demonstrates a marked shift from monumental civic spaces to structures that emphasised military defence, religious identity and practical urban needs. The author discusses key aspects of urban change, including the gradual abandonment of traditional agoras, the decline of monumental temples and the repurposing of public buildings for Christian churches and administrative centres. The chapter also explores the impact of imperial policies on urban planning in reshaping cityscapes through large-scale church construction, fortification efforts and infrastructure projects. The increased militarisation of cities, with the establishment of fortified kastra and urban defences, is another major theme. Regional variations are examined, showing that while some cities, such as Constantinople and Thessaloniki, thrived under imperial patronage, others faced economic stagnation and contraction. The chapter concludes that while Late Antiquity brought profound transformations to urban life, cities in the East remained resilient, adapting to new social and political realities rather than simply collapsing.

Chapter 18 offers a critical analysis of the types of remedies sought in climate cases and examines their implications within the legal landscape. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of climate lawsuits from around the world, the authors provide insights into the diverse range of remedies that have been sought to address the adverse impacts of climate change. They then shed light on the different considerations and approaches that courts have taken when determining appropriate remedies. In their exploration of emerging best practices, the authors highlight instances where courts have adopted innovative and transformative approaches to remedies in climate litigation. They examine creative legal mechanisms that go beyond traditional compensatory measures and explore the potential of remedies such as injunctive relief, restitution, and declaratory judgments to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.

This chapter examines the urban evolution of Trier in Late Antiquity, focusing on its transformation from a Roman provincial centre to an imperial capital. It discusses the city’s development from its foundation as Augusta Treverorum in the first century BCE to its peak as a key administrative and military hub in the late third and fourth centuries. This contribution integrates archaeological evidence, historical texts and urban-planning analysis, highlighting how Trier’s strategic location along the Moselle River contributed to its economic and political rise. The chapter also considers major infrastructure projects, including the construction of city walls, bridges, baths, an amphitheatre and a palace complex, demonstrating how imperial patronage shaped the city’s expansion. A significant theme is Trier’s role as an imperial residence under Constantine and his successors, with the city becoming a centre for coin production, governance and military strategy. The Christianisation of Trier is another focus, detailing the construction of basilicas, episcopal complexes and martyr shrines, which established it as an important religious centre. Despite political upheavals and invasions, Trier remained influential into the early medieval period, with the chapter concluding that its evolution reflects broader patterns of imperial consolidation, economic resilience and religious transformation in Late Antiquity.

This chapter examines the transformation of Jerusalem in Late Antiquity, focusing on its urban development, religious significance and shifting political landscape. It traces the city’s evolution from Roman Aelia Capitolina into a major Christian centre under Byzantine rule, emphasising the role of imperial patronage in reshaping its architecture and sacred spaces. Particular attention is given to the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, initiated by Constantine and consecrated in 335. This church became the focal point of Christian Jerusalem, inspiring the development of additional religious structures, including churches on Mount Zion, on the Mount of Olives and in Bethlehem. The chapter also explores the city’s expansion under Empress Eudocia and Emperor Justinian, discussing projects such as the Nea Church and the extension of the cardo. Further discussions examine the adaptation of existing Roman infrastructure, the conversion of pagan temples into Christian buildings, and the impact of imperial policies on the city’s layout. The chapter concludes by assessing the Persian conquest in 614 CE and the subsequent Islamic takeover in 638 CE, demonstrating how Jerusalem remained a contested and sacred space throughout Late Antiquity.

This book is framed by two bookended revolutions, print in the sixteenth century and the internet and social media in the late twentieth century. How, then, is Christianity changing in the age of social media and international connectivity? What social and cultural changes were already underway in the decades immediately preceding the internet revolution that have a direct bearing on the generations most affected by that revolution? What is the impact of new technologies and social media on the beliefs, practices, and “lived religion” of Christian communities, organizations, and denominations? Finally, to what extent has the internet helped develop global religious networks in which the directional flows of power and influence have begun to change from a North/South trajectory to the reverse?

Conservatives claim that high taxes undermine national economic performance. Yet comparisons of economic growth rates across the advanced countries and across the US states provide little support for the idea that high taxes necessarily hurt economic growth. There is also little evidence that high taxes hurt labor productivity or capital investment, or that governments engage in a tit-for-tat “race to the bottom” by competing to see who can lower taxes the most to encourage investment. Furthermore, data do not support the claim that reducing taxes is necessary to improve a country’s international economic competitiveness. Countries can stimulate economic growth, improve labor productivity, and facilitate economic competitiveness in many ways that do not require low levels of taxation. Those that use government revenues to fund education, research and development, and scientific and technological innovation, for instance, do very well even with high taxes.

Hume’s critique and English revulsion at the French Revolution dampened interest in social contract theorizing. The rise of utilitarianism was another factor. The cause of a universal franchise was taken up by Jeremy Bentham, a founding utilitarian who was dismissive of the social contract idea as an “anarchical fallacy.” The Chartists, who demanded universal manhood suffrage, held up both Bentham and Tom Paine as heroes. The Reform Act of 1832 expanded the power of the propertied in the burgeoning English manufacturing centers. The reformed Parliament passed the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which introduced the hated workhouse system. The Chartists’ million-plus petition for universal manhood suffrage was finally received by Parliament, but ignored. John Stuart Mill, another utilitarian, dismissed Locke’s theory as a fiction but found a truth in the social-contract idea: a principle of reciprocity. Reciprocity requires government to benefit all. Mill advocated votes for women and an expanded electorate but retention of the property qualification until workers could be educated sufficiently not to vote for unwise laws favoring their class. As a safeguard, he proposed plural votes for the educated. On the European continent the social contract tradition succumbed to the idealism of Hegel and the materialism of Marx.

This chapter examines private architecture in Late Antiquity, focusing on the evolution of domestic structures and their role in social, political and religious life. It explores various building types, including domus, villas, insulae, palatia, praetoria and episcopia. The chapter argues that private architecture during this period was highly diverse, reflecting both continuity and transformation. While wealthy residences – whether aristocratic homes, episcopal residences or governor’s palaces – shared similar monumental features such as triclinia, courtyards, baths, and reception halls, often blurring the distinction between private and official spaces, imperial palaces frequently evolved from earlier residential buildings. At the same time, Christian bishops adapted aristocratic architectural models for their own use. Overall, archaeological evidence suggests that private architecture played a crucial role in expressing social status and power, with the design and decoration of homes reinforcing elite identity. At the same time, this study highlights how the economic and political shifts of Late Antiquity shaped domestic architecture, leading to both the persistence of elite housing and the gradual decline of multi-family insulae.

Two of the most striking developments in the modern history of global Christianity have been the respective strengths of Catholic Christianity in Central and Latin America and of Protestant and Pentecostal Christianity in mostly sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this chapter is to shed some light on these important stories by focusing on two early modern, imperial case studies, one from the Spanish conquest of New Spain and another from the British colonial project in West Africa, specifically Sierra Leone. Moreover, to what extent does the theoretical model of nuclei (the inner core of religious traditions), nodes (points of connection and exchange), and networks (transnational flows of people, ideas, and artifacts) help us understand better the various processes that produced such significant consequences for the global transmission of Christianity in the early modern and modern world?