03-01-2013, 05:33 AM
To continue our discussion from Why Late Rome:
We all know that Christianity grew to become the dominant religion in the Roman world in the 4th and 5th centuries. My question has always been: how and why? The easy and oversimplified answer is, of course, the endorsement of Constantine before the battle of the Milvian Bridge. But as Nathan pointed out, it wasn't an overnight switch, and Christianity ended up being a relatively painless transition for many people.
So: why Christianity? Other emperors had endorsed what could be called "foreign" deities such as Sol Invictus or El Gabal. What made Christianity different? To what extent did Christianity adopt Pagan ideas, symbols, and customs? Was the Roman world Christianized, or was it Christianity that underwent Romanization?
We all know that Christianity grew to become the dominant religion in the Roman world in the 4th and 5th centuries. My question has always been: how and why? The easy and oversimplified answer is, of course, the endorsement of Constantine before the battle of the Milvian Bridge. But as Nathan pointed out, it wasn't an overnight switch, and Christianity ended up being a relatively painless transition for many people.
So: why Christianity? Other emperors had endorsed what could be called "foreign" deities such as Sol Invictus or El Gabal. What made Christianity different? To what extent did Christianity adopt Pagan ideas, symbols, and customs? Was the Roman world Christianized, or was it Christianity that underwent Romanization?
Take what you want, and pay for it
-Spanish proverb
-Spanish proverb
