The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation

Lecture 2: The First Cultural Context—Greece and Rome

o The Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”) eliminated bandits by land

and pirates by sea, making transportation safe and predictable.

o The extension of citizenship in the city of Rome to members of

the provinces increased commitment to Rome and extended the

privileges of law more widely.

•    Within decades of its emergence, the Christian religion was more

Gentile than Jewish in its population, which meant that, from its

earliest period, it bore the traces of Mediterranean culture, Greek

civilization, and Roman rule in its DNA.

Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity.

Malina, The New Testament World.

1. How do the tools of cultural dissemination adopted by Alexander
   illustrate the point that a “symbolic world” involves social structures, as
   well as ideas and images?


2. What impact did the fact of empire have on Greek and Roman culture?

Suggested Reading

Questions to Consider