Class 1 (1/29/08) Introduction
Policies, syllabus, assignments
Video: "Biography: Constantine: The Christian Emperor"
Class 2 (2/5/08) Imperial Christianity
Lecture 1:
Origins and transformation of Christian institutions (download lecture outline)
Discussion 1: Constantine and conversion (see Assignments page for study questions for all discussions)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, “Introduction,” chapters 1 and 2; Davis, Councils, chapter 2; Eusebius, Church History 9.8-9 (download pdf) and Life of Constantine 1.25-38 (download pdf); Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors, excerpts (download pdf)
Class 3 (2/12/08) The Trinitarian Controversy
Lecture 2: Trinitarian controversy and Greek patristic thought (download lecture outline)
Discussion 2: Gregory of Nazianzus, Third Theological Oration
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapter 3; Davis, Councils, chapter 3; Lim, “Christian Triumph and Controversy” (download pdf); Gregory of Nazianzus, Third Theological Oration (download pdf)
Class 4 (2/19/08) CANCELLED
Prof. Williams is ill; class is cancelled this week
We will continue next week with the topic that had been scheduled for this week
Class 5 (2/26/08) Monasticism and the holy man
Lecture 3: Rise of monasticism (download lecture outline)
Discussion 3: Syriac Life of Simeon the Stylite
Reading: Anthony, Letters (download pdf); Syriac Life of Simeon the Stylite in Doran, ed. Lives of Simeon Stylites
Class 6 (3/4/08) Latin Christianity 380-430
Quiz 1 on early Christianity, Constantine, Trinitarian controversy, monasticism
Lecture 4: Augustine, Jerome, and friends (download lecture outline)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapter 4; Augustine, On Christian Doctrine and City of God (excerpts, download pdf)
Class 7 (3/11/08) Saints and relics
Lecture 5: Relics and the cult of the saints (download lecture outline)
Discussion 4: Life and Miracles of Martin of Tours
Reading: Sulpicius Severus, Life of Martin in Early Christian Lives; Gregory of Tours, Miracles of St. Martin book 1 (Van Dam, pp. 200-228, view e-book)
Class 8 (3/18/08) Christological controversy
Quiz 2 on Latin fathers, cult of relics
Lecture 6: The Christological controversy (download lecture outline)
Reading: Davis, Councils, chapter 4; Nestorius, Sermon 27 (download pdf), Bazaar of Heracleides (excerpt, download pdf); Proclus, Homily 1 (download pdf); Cyril, Letter 96 (download pdf) and Explanation of the 12 Chapters (download pdf)
Spring Break
Class 9 (4/1/08) The council of Chalcedon
Lecture 7: From Ephesus I to Chalcedon (download lecture outline)
Discussion 5: Acts of the Council of Chalcedon
Reading: Davis, Councils, chapter 5; Chalcedonian Definition (download pdf); Acts of the Council of Chalcedon (excerpts, download pdf)
**ANNOUNCEMENT: I have graded the last set of quizzes and will bring them to school Thursday April 3. Let me know or come by my office if you would like to pick up your quiz. You may also e-mail me to get your grade.**
Class 10 (4/8/08) The outer reaches of Christendom
Quiz 3 on Christological controversy, including Chalcedon
Lecture 8: From Ireland to Persia (download lecture outline)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapters 5, 7
Class 11 (4/15/08) The church of Rome and the church of Ireland: contrasting models
Paper 1 due: 5-7 pages on a primary text
Lecture 9: The church of Rome in the sixth century (download lecture outline)
Video: "In Search of Ancient Ireland"
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapter 8; Benedictine Rule; Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule, part I (online text)
Class 12 (4/22/08) The Western churches before Charlemagne
Lecture 10: A church of the nobility (download lecture outline)
Discussion 6: Lives of Radegund, Benedictine and Pastoral Rules
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapters 6 and 9; Benedict, Rule; Lives of Radegund by Venantius Fortunatus and Baudovinia in Sainted Women of the Dark Ages
Class 13 (4/29/08) The impact of Islam
Quiz 4 on Christianity outside the Roman empire, rise of the papacy, Benedict, Merovingian church
Video: "Islam: Empire of Faith," episode 1
Lecture 11: Islam and the new world order (download lecture outline)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapters 12 and 13
Class 14 (5/6/08) Iconoclasm (the East, 630-787)
Paper 2 due today: 5-7 page book review
Lecture 12: Iconoclasm: theology, politics and art history (download lecture outline)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapter 17; Definition of the Council of Hieria (online text)
Class 15 (5/13/08) Charlemagne and the Church
Quiz 5 on impact of Islam, iconoclasm
Lecture 13: Western church and imperial expansion (download lecture outline)
Reading: Brown, Christendom, chapters 18 and 19
No discussion or primary reading