See also Guy Halsall’s handlist ‘Translations of Primary Sources: AD 300-800’.

https://600transformer.blogspot.com/p/translations-of-primary-sources-c300.html

1. Ammianus Marcellinus Primary Source: The last great Latin historian and the direct heir of Tacitus. His work was intended to cover the period from the accession of Nerva (AD 96) up to the death of Valens (AD 378). Only the last 18 books survive, of an original total of 31, covering the period from 353-78, meaning that the lost 13 books must have only given a brief overview of the preceding two and a half centuries. His account of the mid-fourth century is indispensable, partly because he was an eye-witness to many of the events he reports, but also because his writing is accurate and engaging. He rejects biographical styles, apportioning praise and blame fairly to the individuals he discusses. Freely available online, but for a print version the Penguin translation is good. Augustine of Hippo Primary Source: Quite possibly the most influential Christian theologian of this or any other period. Born in 354 in Thagaste, modern Algeria, he wandered through various philosophical schools and teaching positions before converting to Christianity in 386. Priesthood followed in 391, and became a bishop in 395. His works are extensive, but perhaps the most famous are his Confessions and The City Of God. The Confessions are autobiographical, outlining his sinful youth and conversion to Christianity, recording the development of his spiritual and philosophical thinking over time. The City of God is an answer to pagans who blamed the sack of Rome in 410 on the Christians. Augustine juxtaposes Christianity with Rome’s Classical, pagan past, arguing for a clear break between the two. Both of these influential works have been translated into English multiple times (among other modern languages) and can be purchased in various different editions. They are also freely available online. Cassiodorus Primary Source: As a prominent figure in the political, intellectual and religious world of 6th-century Italy, Cassiodorus is a crucial source. He was directly involved in governing Italy under the Gothic king Theoderic and his successors, up to the conquest of Justinian. The Variae are a collection of letters and other documents concerned with administration in Italy at the time, including the often volatile interactions between the senate in Rome, the royal court in Ravenna and the emperor in Constantinople. He also produced works of intellectual training and theology, particularly after his move to the eastern capital after Justianian’s Gothic Wars.
2. Procopius Primary Source: The two most famous of Procopius’ surviving works are The Wars and The Secret History. The first is an account of Justinian’s campaigns against the Sassanid Persians, the Vandals in North Africa and the Goths in Italy, arranged by geographical location rather than chronology. Procopius is very unusual among Roman historians, in that he wrote about the sitting emperor, who he knew very well through service in the imperial administration. This first-hand perspective makes him incredibly valuable for understanding the Roman world under Justinian. He was close to Justinian’s top general, Belisarius, and presents a generally flattering picture of him in The Wars. The Secret History is a strange and somewhat sensational text. It was never published in Procopius’ lifetime, and in fact seems to have been almost totally unknown from at least the 10th century until a manuscript was found in the Vatican Library in 1623. The work is a direct character assassination of the Justinian and his wife Theodora, and Belisarius and his wife Antonina. The accounts are heavily gendered and deeply religious, focusing on the sexual excesses of the women and accusing Justinian of consorting with demons. He also engages in an extended critique of Justinian’s political, economic and military activities, based on his privileged position in the administration. Zosimus Primary Source: a rare pagan writer, Zosimus’ New History gives a glimpse into non-Christian views of the later Roman world. He is our main source for the later 4th and early 5th century, seeing the decadence of the empire as a consequence of the rejection of paganism. He is naturally hostile to Constantine I and Theodosius I and favourable to Julian.