Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook

by Lee; Doug

• ISBN13: 9780415138932
• ISBN10: 0415138930
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2000-10-12
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

A. D. Lee examines the fortunes of pagans and Christians from the upheavals of the third century, to the increasingly tumultuous times of the fifth and sixth centuries which witnessed the demise of the western empire and the survival of the eastern half. It also explores the fate of other significant religious groups - Jews, Zoroastrians, and Manichaeans - and illustrates a number of important themes in late antique Christianity, such as the growth of monasticism, the emerging power of bishops, and the development of pilgrimage. Each extract or item is accompanied by a clear explanation of its context and significance and by guidance on further reading. By presenting contemporary material in this way,Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquityforms the ideal introduction to a period and subject full of interest.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	ix
Preface	x
Acknowledgements	xiii
Conventions and abbreviations	x
List of emperors	xviii
Glossary	xx
Map	xii
Introduction	1	(12)
Late Antiquity: an overview	1	(5)
The sources: types, languages, and dating	6	(4)
Pagans or polytheists?	10	(1)
Further reading and useful reference works	11	(2)
Part I Pagans and Christians through time	13	(136)
Pagans in the third century	15	(21)
Christians in the third century	36	(28)
Pagans and Christians during the Tetrarchy	64	(16)
Constantine	80	(14)
Pagans and Christians in the mid-fourth century	94	(17)
Pagans and Christians in the late fourth century	111	(21)
Christianisation and its limits in the fifth and sixth centuries	132	(17)
Part II Other religious groups	149	(36)
Jews	151	(18)
Zoroastrians	169	(5)
Manichaeans	174	(11)
Part III Themes in late antique Christianity	185	(113)
Ascetics	187	(26)
Bishops	213	(14)
Material resources	227	(14)
Church life	241	(20)
Women	261	(11)
Pilgrims and holy places	272	(26)
Edition	298	(3)
Bibliography	301	(14)
Index of sources	315	(4)
General index	319