Augustine was born in 354AD, in the north African town of Hippo Regius (which my brain wants to read as 'King Hippo'). He was quickly recoginized as brilliant and his family gave him the best education they possibly could. He became one of the most important theorists of the Catholic church but, interestingly enough, did so only after a very public conversion. Augustine is perhaps the most famous conversion to Christianity in history.
He had three famous and important works, all of which we'll read from in this project: 'Confessions', 'City of God' and 'On Christian Doctrine'. Augustine was one of the leading theorists in subjects like Original Sin and Just War Doctrine. He was one of the earliest to have the honor of being a 'doctor of the church', a title given to those whose advanced learning.
He returned to Hippo in later life and was a Bishop there. He died while the city was under siege from Vandals (actual Vandals). Apparently he asked that all of the books in the city be gathered into the library for safe keeping. When the Vandals burned the city they spared only the library and Augustine's Cathedral.
We'll return to Augustine several more times in the next ten years.
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