Event

One of the earliest works written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE) reveals his awareness of his African origins. This complicates conventional universalist claims about the most important father of the church. But what does Africa mean for Augustine? And how do his African affiliations inflect his work? This paper will begin to answer these questions. In the process, it will sketch a view of the late Roman empire that, instead of looking South across the Mediterranean from Italy or Gaul, looks North from Africa - the 'eccentric' approach of my title.