Ramsay MacMullen Knihy

An inviting exploration of Rome's founding centuries

This book is a collection of nearly 175 documentsfrom saints, emperors, philosophers, satirists, inscriptions, graffiti, and other interesting typesthat sheds light on the complex fabric of religious belief as it changed from a variety of non-Judeo-Christian movements to Christian in late antiquity. These texts illuminate and bring to life the bizarre and the banal of the social world of the Roman Empire, the world in which Christianity ultimately gained preeminence.This treasury of texts leads the reader through the matrix of beliefs among which Christianity grew. It includes both Christian and non-Christian sources, avoiding a common but obscuring division between the two. The material is presented as one single flow that satisfies natural curiosity and whets the reader's appetite for more. Brief explanatory introductions to the documents are included.

How did the early Christian church manage to win its dominant place in the Roman world? In his newest book, an eminent historian of ancient Rome examines this question from a secular―rather than an ecclesiastical―viewpoint. MacMullen’s provocative conclusion is that mass conversions to Christianity were based more on the appeal of miracle or the opportunity for worldly advantages than simply on a “rising tide of Christian piety.”“Provocative to the Christian religious scholar and the nonreligious historian alike. . . . MacMullen’s style is lucid, and the story of a period with its own innate interest is narrated with compelling feeling. . . . It is an important book, and highly recommended for the general reader of history as well as the Christian who wonders how the ‘Jesus movement’ came, by Constantine’s time, to be the church we know― Choice“Written in a fresh and vigorous style, . . . [this book] offers an admirable survey of some major aspects of the history [of the early Christian church].”―Robert M. Grant, New York Times Book Review“Gently provocative. . . . MacMullen has written an instructive and enjoyable book on a great theme.”―Henry Chadwick, Times Literary Supplement“A carefully argued and well-written study.”―Jackson P. Hershbell, Library Journal

The book explores the various groups and individuals who challenged the authority and stability of the Roman Empire. It delves into the political, military, and social dynamics that defined these conflicts, highlighting key events and figures that played pivotal roles in opposing Roman dominance. Through a critical analysis, it examines the impact of these adversaries on the Empire's history and legacy, providing insights into the complexities of power and resistance in ancient times.

Exploring the motivations behind human behavior, this book presents a cross-disciplinary analysis that integrates insights from various fields, including philosophy, sociology, psychology, and history. Ramsay MacMullen, a distinguished emeritus professor from Yale University, synthesizes these diverse perspectives to offer a comprehensive understanding of why people act as they do. His scholarly approach aims to bridge the gaps between disciplines, providing a fresh viewpoint on a topic that has intrigued thinkers for centuries.