Book 1, Augustine of Hippo : Chapter 1, First Half of Part 1 Summary and Analysis

The book starts in Africa. North African Rome was the native home of Augustine. Latin was actually spoken in the area. Peter Brown informs readers that Thagaste, Augustine's home town had a 300 year history when he was born there. He explains that most people farmed. This location was noticeably separated from the Mediterranean Sea by ranges of beautiful pine forest. The land was changed when people took to growing olive trees. Roman pride is a psychological feature of the people in the region, including Augustine. This man was to be a bishop. The local North Africans, of which he was one, were passionate in their respect for education and for the legal system. Men of the area were apt to be familiar with the law...