Thursday 4 September 2008

The Later Roman Empire A.D. 284-430. By Averil Cameron.

The fourth chapter of this book concentrates on the reign of Constantine as Emperor 306- 337AD discussing Constantine’s re-order of the senates, his conversion to Christianity, the developing relations between the Emperor and the church and the establishment of Jerusalem and the Holy Land as places of Christian pilgrimage. This theme continues in chapter five and demonstrates the affect Constantine’s conversion to Christianity had on the church and state relationship. Many points are discussed in this chapter such as: the growing wealth of the church and bishops, their changing role of becoming a more central figure in society, increasing persecution of Pagans and Jews at the hands of Christians and the growing trend for Christians to undertake self denial and asceticism.

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