NES 3637 - [History and Literature of Early Christianity]

(crosslisted) CLASS 3637, JWST 3637, MEDVL 3637, RELST 3637
(GHB) (HA-AS)

Fall. Not offered 2015-2016. 4 credits.

K. Haines-Eitzen.

This course traces the historical development of Christianity from its roots in 1st century Palestinian Judaism to the emergence of Islam in the early 7th century, with special emphasis on the period prior to the “conversion” of Constantine in the 4rth century. The focus will be on exploring the rich diversity of Christianity in late antiquity by reading a wide range of primary literary sources, including selections from the New Testament, church fathers, apocryphal writings, gnostic literatures, saints lives, and much more. In addition, we will study the material culture of early Christianity through archaeology, art, inscriptions, and papyri. Special attention will be given to the varieties of Christianity and the ways in which various forms of Christianity in different regions around the Mediterranean interfaced with paganism, Judaism, and Islam.