CHRISTIANIZATION AND ITS CHALLENGESIn the east, the church, while itself profi ting from the growing prosperity of
the fi fth century, also played an active role in the redistribution of wealth
which was changing the late Roman empire into a Christian medieval society.
This process was hastened by the fact that the emperors, even if not all the
leading members of society, took an active lead. We are still left with the dif-
fi culty of judging the extent to which this institutional Christianization was
internalized by the average citizen, and have noted that our largely Christian
sources may give a misleading impression. But it was of the nature of early
Christianity not just to provide a cultic framework but also to teach, discipline
and regulate the lives of its members to an exceptionally high degree. Pagan
practice and pagan beliefs might continue, but the post-Constantinian church
was determined to win hearts as well as minds.