Romans and Christians

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Ancient Christianity developed and spread in the confines of the Roman World, both directly, under Roman rule, and in constant interchange with classical culture, Roman political and cultural institutions. As a result of its emergence, everything in the Roman world changed: thoughts, beliefs, norms, aesthetic preferences and social norms. But how exactly did that shift happen? What did it mean to become a Christian in the Roman world, and how was Christianity itself shaped by that interaction? In this course, we will explore the social, cultural and political preconditions and consequences of Christianization, and the fascinating era that is late antiquity. In this dynamic the city of Rome itself plays an important role. Rome was always more than a material city. It embodied Roman power and Roman identities, and its physical spaces were deeply significant both to the pre-Christian Romans and to the Christians. We will focus on the city and its transformation to document its daily life, civic, religious and political structures as immortalized by buildings and material remains. We will begin with a look at the ancient Roman world at its height: the age of the Emperor Augustus. This time saw both a redefinition and reaffirmation of the Roman self-image (and their concept of the non- Roman world) and the emergence of Christianity. We will then consider important steps in the interaction between these two forces: from conflict and persecution to a redefinition of the ancient heritage and a new understanding of Roman-ness that would shape the Western World. Along the way, we will encounter many of the focal issues that shape the interactions between the church and the secular world to this day, as well as challenge every Christian's views and ethical duties, such as: how did the early Christians/how do we react to phenomena of otherness (migration, minorities, heterodoxy)? How does/did Christianity shape our understanding of the social order? To which degree should Church and State interact, collaborate, or keep apart (e.g. in the military, the Christian basis of secular power, Roman or Christian imperialism)? All of these questions were virulent in antiquity and thus studying late antiquity will also contribute to our understanding of modern complexities. We will base our discussion on the extant primary sources and monuments: onsite visits will allow us to explore objects of art and architecture, archaeological remains and class lectures will be based on inscriptions and literary texts. Thus, we will also discuss the theoretical approaches these various documents require for interpretation, and the methods we employ to understand what they tell us about the past.