PAGANS, CHRISTIANS, & JEWS:
Religion, Culture, and Conflict in late
Antiquity
This course explores the development and
interaction of traditional Roman paganism, early Christianity and Judaism. We will become acquainted with the primary
sources for these worldviews and religions.
We will examine their growth, their structures and beliefs, their
reactions to one another, their mutation and putative eclipse.
Your attention and contribution in class
is essential for the success of the course.
You are expected to read widely beyond the very selective reading
list. Writing, critical analysis of the
material and the lectures are crucial to your success. The late-Antique world and the Greek speaking
east in particular produced a vibrant and powerful form of imperial paganism
that many claim is still with us. It’s
imfluence and forms most certainly are still extant. This period and place also produced the three
monotheistic faiths that are still with us in variant forms and for the most
part seem not to get along. We will
examine all of this and control the questions and material that informs our
contemporary knowledge of these movements, religions and wordviews.
There are three in-class tests in C, P
& J. There are two critical research
papers of approx. ten pages in length. This does not include notes and
bibliography. Your participation in
class is important for your success. There
will be periodic discussion sessions aimed at clarifying readings and other
issues. Attendance at these sessions is
highly advisable.
SEPT. 8:
Intro, readings, business
HELLENISM AND THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE HELLENISTIC WORLD
SEPT. 10-20: Hellenization; Alexander the Great;
Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms; Alexander’s cities and version of Greek
culture; the “case study” of the Maccabees; Resistance as a mode of
assimilation;
SEPT. 22-27: THE EMERGENCE OF ROMAN RULE &
EMPIRE
Pompey invades;
Gabinius the administrator; Actium; Octavian and Mark Anthony; Augustus –
“Rulers of the World, the toga bearing Romans;” the Herods as quintessential
provincial client lords;
TEST I: Sept. 29
LEARNING TO LIVE AND LOVE THE LIFE OF AN AVERAGE ROMAN
PAGANISM IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
OCT. 1-15: Ordering
the Universe – the Gods; PRIVATE RELIGION; family, pater familias; slaves and
family; women in Augustan Rome; birthdays; tradition; religion of the army;
Egyptians cults; Syrian and Asia; a most high god?
PUBLIC RELIGION: Temples and other public
buildings; public space and order; the imperial cult – Son of God; coins,
slogans and titles; Roman imperial ideology and religion; a world full with gods; education and
philosophy; virtue, otium, piety; E-Readings; inscriptions; MacMullen 1-18;
73-93; 49-61; 18-48; 94-130
TEST II: Oct. 20
First Research Paper
is Due October 22 – Make sure to set up an appointment with Prof. Overman
THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITIES AND SECOND
Oct. 25-Nov.17: “second temple Judaism;” Judaisms after the
Maccabean revolt; Roman impact on Judaism; “sectarian” Judaisms; resistance and
“popular movements against Rome; “Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees;” Qumran and
the Dead Sea Scrolls; certain Jesus Movements – another popular leader; the
first Revolt; Judaisms and “Christianities” after the revolt and destruction of
the temple; diaspora Judaism; Paul – his letters and his world; Paul after
Paul; The recognition of Christianity in
the Roman world; Gnosticism; Christian anti-Semitism; READINGS: the Gospels;
Paul’s Letters; Cohen chaps. 2, 4-6; E-Readings – Gnostic
Gospels; Josephus, Roetzel, Overman.
THE SO-CALLED TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LATE
ANTIQUE WORLD & RABBINIC JUDAISM
Nov. 19-Dec.15: Christianity
and Paganism together; Christianity’s detractors; Constantine, Nicea, and the
Christianizing of the Roman world; Creeds and Controversies; Legislation about
Christianity and Paganism; the dramatic shift eastward; the formation and
genius of Rabbinic Judaism; the lights go out in the west; whither
paganism? What happened to Jesus? Across the
QUIZ III: Dec. 13
Final Paper Due Dec.17 Make sure to
see Prof. Overman