History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne (Vol. 1 of 2)

This volume explores how European ideas of right and wrong shifted over a span of more than a millennium, from the early Roman Empire through the rise of Charlemagne. The author distinguishes between the “standard” of morals—what virtues a society claims to uphold—and the “type” of morals—how those virtues are prioritized at different times. By comparing figures as far apart as a Roman citizen of Pliny’s era and a Tudor‑period Englishman, the book shows how the same virtue, such as humanity, could be expressed in dramatically different ways.

The study also examines the gap between moral theory and everyday practice, probing the influence of teachers, philosophers, and religious institutions on the broader population. It traces the evolution of Stoic, eclectic, and Egyptian thought in the pagan world, then follows the Christian Church’s role as a moral force without delving into theological debate. Readers will come away with a nuanced picture of how virtue, vice, and societal values intertwined to shape Europe’s moral landscape.