Written between AD 413 and 426 in response to the sack of Rome, The City of God is Saint Augustine of Hippo’s masterwork of Christian theology and philosophy. Volume I opens his sweeping argument contrasting the earthly city — built on self-love and lust for power — with the heavenly city sustained by love of God. Augustine refutes pagan charges that Christianity weakened Rome while laying out a Christian vision of history.
One of the most influential books in Western intellectual history, it shaped medieval political thought and theology for a millennium. This free EPUB download makes Augustine’s foundational text available in a convenient format for scholars and curious readers alike.