Title
The Making of a Christian Aristocracy : Social and Religious Change in the Western Roman Empire / Michele Renee Salzman.
ISBN
9780674043046
Published
Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, [2009]
Copyright
©2002
Language
English
Language Note
In English.
Description
1 online resource (368 p.)
Other Standard Identifiers
10.4159/9780674043046 doi
Dewey Decimal Classification
248.240938
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.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
System Details Note
Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
Digital File Characteristics
text file PDF
Source of Description
Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 01. Dez 2022)
Frontmatter
Contents
Preface
CHAPTER 1 Approaches to a Paradox
CHAPTER 2 Defining the Senatorial Aristocracy
CHAPTER 3 Aristocratic Men: Social Origins
CHAPTER 4 Aristocratic Men: Career Paths
CHAPTER 5 Aristocratic Women
CHAPTER 6 The Emperor's Influence on Aristocratic Conversion
CHAPTER 7 The Aristocrats' Influence on Christianity
Tables
Appendix 1: Sources, Criteria, and Variables for the Database
Appendix 2: Names and Religious Affiliation of Aristocrats in the Study
Appendix 3: Sources for the Database- Addenda and Corrigenda to PLRE
Appendix 4: High Office Holders
Abbreviations and Frequently Cited Works
Notes
Index
