The Making of a Christian Aristocracy: Social and Religious Change in the Western Roman Empire

by Salzman, Michele Renee

• ISBN13: 9780674006416
• ISBN10: 0674006410
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Harvard Univ Pr

Summary

What did it take to cause the Roman aristocracy to turn to Christianity, changing centuries-old beliefs and religious traditions? Michele Salzman takes a fresh approach to this much-debated question. Focusing on a sampling of individual aristocratic men and women as well as on writings and archeological evidence, she brings new understanding to the process by which pagan aristocrats became Christian, and Christianity became aristocratic. Roman aristocrats would seem to be unlikely candidates for conversion to Christianity. Pagan and civic traditions were deeply entrenched among the educated and politically well-connected. Indeed, men who held state offices often were also esteemed priests in the pagan state cults: these priesthoods were traditionally sought as a way to reinforce one's social position. Moreover, a religion whose texts taught love for one's neighbor and humility, with strictures on wealth and notions of equality, would not have obvious appeal for those at the top of a hierarchical society. Yet somehow in the course of the fourth and early fifth centuries Christianity and the Roman aristocracy met and merged. Examining the world of the ruling class--its institutions and resources, its values and style of life--Salzman paints a fascinating picture, especially of aristocratic women. Her study yields new insight into the religious revolution that transformed the late Roman Empire.

Author Biography

Michele Renee Salzman is Professor of History at the University of California, Riverside.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Approaches to a Paradox	1	(18)
Defining the Senatorial Aristocracy	19	(50)
Aristocratic Men: Social Origins	69	(38)
Aristocratic Men: Career Paths	107	(31)
Aristocratic Women	138	(40)
The Emperor's Influence on Aristocratic Conversion	178	(22)
The Aristocrats' Influence on Christianity	200	(21)
Tables	221	(10)
Appendix 1: Sources, Criteria, and Variables for the Database	231	(12)
Appendix 2: Names and Religious Affiliation of Aristocrats in the Study	243	(11)
Appendix 3: Sources for the Database---Addenda and Corrigenda to PLRE	254	(4)
Appendix 4: High Office Holders	258	(7)
Abbreviations and Frequently Cited Works	265	(4)
Notes	269	(73)
Index	342