Chapter 7, Part 3 - Chapters 17, 18 & 19 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 17: Hippo is described. When Augustine turned up, it had already been an established town for a good millenium. Originated by Phoenicians who really did worship some god called Baal, their architecture continued to give definition to the town. Along with the Phoenician influence, but much more recent, was the Roman modification. With their arrival, the Romans brought great architecture and urban improvements including -probably sewers, a public stadium and at least one temple with a good hundred statues that provided, to those in the know, quite a clear history of Rome up to their arrival. The region was wealthy - meaning there was plenty of food. The area was dependent mainly on corn as a 'cash crop'. Brown writes that the ebb and flow of the corn market can "ruin a small man" and...