This book explores the way in which different ethnic, religious and linguistic communities co-existed and conflicted in the Roman Near East in the three centuries between the conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 312 and the beginning of Muhammad's preaching in about 610. In the fourth century a major role was played by Greek-speaking pagans, most notably the great orator, Libanius, from Antioch in Syria. After about 400, however, the public observance of pagan rituals died away under the pressure of Christianity. But the Greek language, as used in the Church, remained dominant. Pagan Aramaic is curiously invisible in this period, but the dialect of Aramaic used by Jews in Palestine is found in very extensive use, along with Hebrew, in a mass of religious literature, including the Palestinian Talmud, Aramaic versions of books of the Bible, and in inscriptions from synagogues. Most of the synagogue inscriptions come from their often quite elaborate mosaic floors, some of which contain visual representations of scenes from the Bible. Jews used Greek also, even in the inscriptions from synagogues, and so too did Samaritans, who were a powerful force in Late Antique Palestine, mounting two major revolts against the Empire. Outside Palestine, the most notable development in the culture of the region was the emergence of Syriac (a particular dialect and script of Aramaic) as a language of Christian culture and belief. 'Syrians' however were not a distinct ethnic group. The group which was most distinct from the others was made up of the unsettled and warlike peoples on the fringes of the Empire whom almost invariably, call 'Arabs', but who in Late Antiquity were far more often referred to as 'Saracens'. By the end of the period, many of them had converted to Christianity. The major puzzle which the book poses is what is the relation between this process of conversion and the rise of Islam.
Les mer
This is a lively portrayal of the ways in which different ethnic, religious and linguistic communities co-existed and conflicted in the Roman Near East in the three centuries between the conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 312 and the beginning of Muhammad's preaching in about 610.
Les mer
PROLOGUE: EXCAVATING THE BIBLE; I. A GREEK CHRISTIAN WORLD?; II. JEWS AND SAMARITANS IN A GREEK CHRISTIAN WORLD; III. SYRIANS AND SARACENS: SURYOYE AND TAYYOYE; EPILOGUE: CONNECTING TO MUHAMMAD?
a consistent display of dazzling erudition. One can only wish to have been present when the lectures were delivered.
Comprises the text of the 2010 Schweich Lectures in Biblical Archaeology Covers a wide range of religions and ethnic groups in the Near East in 4th to 7th centuries, including Greek Christians, Syriac-speaking Christians, Jews,Samaritans and Arabs Examines the rise of Islam against the backdrop of the preaching of biblical monotheism
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Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, 1958-64 Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History, The Queen's College, Oxford, 1964-76 Professor of Ancient History, University College London, 1976-84 Camden Professor of Ancient History, University of Oxford, 1984-2002 Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow, 2002-4 Sather Professor of Classical Literature, University of California, Berkeley, 2002-3 Fellow of the British Academy
Les mer
Comprises the text of the 2010 Schweich Lectures in Biblical Archaeology Covers a wide range of religions and ethnic groups in the Near East in 4th to 7th centuries, including Greek Christians, Syriac-speaking Christians, Jews,Samaritans and Arabs Examines the rise of Islam against the backdrop of the preaching of biblical monotheism
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780197265574
Publisert
2013
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
468 gr
Høyde
240 mm
Bredde
164 mm
Dybde
23 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
150

Forfatter

Biographical note

Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, 1958-64 Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History, The Queen's College, Oxford, 1964-76 Professor of Ancient History, University College London, 1976-84 Camden Professor of Ancient History, University of Oxford, 1984-2002 Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow, 2002-4 Sather Professor of Classical Literature, University of California, Berkeley, 2002-3 Fellow of the British Academy