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The Library

Forty Centuries of Christian Writing

1577 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.

401–500

The Fifth Century

1 work

c. 439

Greek

Ecclesiastical History

Socrates Scholasticus · c. 380–c. 439

A continuation of Eusebius from Constantine to 439 by a Constantinopolitan lawyer, unusually willing to quote documents and to criticise bishops.

Early Church · History

601–700

The Seventh Century

1 work

c. 630

Greek

The Paschal Chronicle

Chronicon Paschale

Anonymous

A world chronicle from Adam to 628, organised around the Easter cycle, with a detailed eyewitness account of the Avar siege of Constantinople.

Byzantine · Chronicle

1001–1100

The Eleventh Century

1 work

16 July 1054

Latin

The Bull of Excommunication

Humbert of Silva Candida · c. 1000–1061

The document a papal legate laid on the altar of Hagia Sophia, excommunicating the patriarch and his followers in intemperate terms — its author's authority already lapsed, the pope having died.

Western · Decree