Constantine and the Captive Christians of Persia

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4th century
A01=Kyle Smith
Age Group_Uncategorized
Age Group_Uncategorized
ancient christianity
ancient church
ancient world
Author_Kyle Smith
automatic-update
byzantine
Category1=Non-Fiction
Category=HBJF
Category=HBLA1
Category=HRCC2
Category=NHC
Category=NHF
Category=QRAX
Category=QRM
christian converts
christian roman empire
constantine
conversion to christianity
COP=United States
Delivery_Pre-order
early christianity
eastern christians
ecclesiastical histories
emperor
eq_history
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_non-fiction
first christian emperor
hagiography
history of constantine
history of persia
Language_English
martyr
martyrdom
mesopotamia
middle eastern christianity
NWS=57
PA=Temporarily unavailable
Price_€50 to €100
PS=Active
religion
religious history
religious persecution
roman empire
sasanian empire
SN=Transformation of the Classical Heritage
softlaunch
syriac christianity
syriac christians

Product details

  • ISBN 9780520289604
  • Weight: 499g
  • Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
  • Publication Date: 19 Jan 2016
  • Publisher: University of California Press
  • Publication City/Country: US
  • Product Form: Hardback
  • Language: English
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It is widely believed that the Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity politicized religious allegiances, dividing the Christian Roman Empire from the Zoroastrian Sasanian Empire and leading to the persecution of Christians in Persia. This account, however, is based on Greek ecclesiastical histories and Syriac martyrdom narratives that date to centuries after the fact. In this groundbreaking study, Kyle Smith analyzes diverse Greek, Latin, and Syriac sources to show that there was not a single history of fourth-century Mesopotamia. By examining the conflicting hagiographical and historical evidence, Constantine and the Captive Christians of Persia presents an evocative and evolving portrait of the first Christian emperor, uncovering how Syriac Christians manipulated the image of their western Christian counterparts to fashion their own political and religious identities during this century of radical change.
Kyle Smith is Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and Religion at the University of Toronto and the translator of The Martyrdom and History of Blessed Simeon bar Sabba'e.