The Great Transition

      The 300 years after the Roman Empire dissolved, my Celtic ancestors faced a number of challenges. "Who's on first?" would be one of those questions that would need to be solved. For hundreds of years the Roman military had kept things in check. Roman administration maintained all the social considerations. Roman life gave all a new way to experience this culture from all sorts of ways. The line of authority was straight forward. As long as you went along with most things, they were settled long before some event started.  The power to influence or command thought, opinion, and behavior was always clear to those who might question such authority. Wow, the rug had been pulled out from under my kindred and they would have to figure out this new set of circumstances. It was not long before the Roman empire fell apart that this new religion [Christianity] had become the state religion. It seems this new group had taken over the authority in all the previous Roman 28 Provinces. I think these are called diocese now, and there was a person in charge of each. Latin still seemed their language, and education was encouraged and supported. Maybe we should check into this new authority my ancestors might think. It would certainly change things around here. 

      The following text discusses this transition period beginning on page 269 through page 286 for those who might be interested in knowing more about this history.  The cover of my copy is shown.

       It was first published 1953 and again in 1975 by HarperCollins Publishers, N.Y.