Politics and Tradition Between Rome, Ravenna and Constantinople - Bjornlie, M. Shane (Claremont McKenna College, California)

This study examines the historical context of Cassiodorus' Variae as a collection, rather than as an assemblage of individual case studies on sixth-century Italy. It reveals the author's motives in preparing the epistolary collection and, in doing so, sheds new light on early medieval political, ecclesiastical, fiscal and legal affairs.