Book culture and education in early Byzantium (4th - 7th centuries ce): Asia Minor

The paper considers the role of book culture, the state and evolution of education in the Eastern Mediterranean of the early Byzantine time (4th - 7th centuries) in the context of the cultural continuity between Antiquity and the Middle Ages, using the example of Asia Minor. In addition to the internal history of book knowledge and schools, general observations are made on the specifics of the situation in each of the main centers. Separately, the development of ancient and Christian intellectual traditions in the main regions is shown. Maintaining high standards of literacy, books, and schools continued until Byzantium entered the Dark Ages period.