Pagans And Christians In Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook (routledge Sourcebooks For The Ancient World)

In Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity, A.D. Lee documents the transformation of the religious landscape of the Roman world from one of enormous diversity of religious practices and creeds in the 3rd century to a situation where, by the 6th century, Christianity had become the dominant religious force. Using translated extracts from contemporary sources he examines the fortunes of pagans and Christians from the upheavals of the 3rd Century, through the dramatic events associated with the emperors Constantine, Julian and Theodosius in the 4th, to the increasingly tumultuous times of the 5th and 6th centuries, while also illustrating important themes in late antique Christianity such as the growth of monasticism, the emerging power of bishops and the development of pilgrimage, as well as the fate of other significant religious groups including Jews and Manichaeans. This new edition has been updated to include: additional documentary material, including newly published papyri an expanded chapter on the emperor Constantine greater attention to church controversies in the fourth and fifth centuries thoroughly updated references and further reading, taking into account developments in modern scholarship during the past fifteen years. Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity is an invaluable resource for students of the late antique world, and of early Christianity and the early Church. In Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity, A.D. Lee documents the transformation of the religious landscape of the Roman world from one of enormous diversity of religious practices and creeds in the 3rd century to a situation where, by the 6th century, Christianity had become the dominant religious force. Using translated extracts from contemporary sources he examines the fortunes of pagans and Christians from the upheavals of the 3rd Century, through the dramatic events associated with the emperors Constantine, Julian and Theodosius in the 4th, to the increasingly tumultuous times of the 5th and 6th centuries, while also illustrating important themes in late antique Christianity such as the growth of monasticism, the emerging power of bishops and the development of pilgrimage, as well as the fate of other significant religious groups including Jews and Manichaeans. --publisher description. Pagans and Christians through time. Pagans in the third century ; Christians in the third century ; Pagans and Christians during the Tetrarchy ; Constantine ; Pagans and Christians in the mid-fourth century ; Pagans and Christians in the late fourth century ; Christianisation and its limits in the fifth and sixth centuries -- Other religious groups. Jews ; Zoroastrians ; Manichaeans -- Themes in late antique Christianity. Ascetics ; Bishops ; Material resources ; Church life ; Women ; Pilgrims and holy places. A.D. Lee. Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-329) and indexes. In the 3rd century AD the Roman empire encompassed an enormous diversity of religious creeds, by the 6th century, Christianity had become the dominant creed. This book offers the ideal introduction to this period and topic.