LEADER 04229nam 2200613Ia 450 001 9910778188903321 005 20221103135440.0 010 $a0-674-04304-9 024 7 $a10.4159/9780674043046 035 $a(CKB)1000000000786821 035 $a(StDuBDS)AH23050873 035 $a(SSID)ssj0000195926 035 $a(PQKBManifestationID)11179008 035 $a(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000195926 035 $a(PQKBWorkID)10131546 035 $a(PQKB)11138379 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL3300377 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebr10318367 035 $a(OCoLC)923110938 035 $a(DE-B1597)585411 035 $a(DE-B1597)9780674043046 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC3300377 035 $a(OCoLC)1294424817 035 $a(EXLCZ)991000000000786821 100 $a20010719d2002 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aur||||||||||| 181 $ctxt 182 $cc 183 $acr 200 14$aThe making of a Christian aristocracy$b[electronic resource] $esocial and religious change in the western Roman Empire /$fMichele Renee Salzman 210 $aCambridge, MA $cHarvard University Press$d2002 215 $a1 online resource (xiv, 354 p.) 300 $aOriginally published: 2002. 311 $a0-674-01603-3 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references (p. 269-341) and index. 327 $aPreface 1. Approaches to a Paradox 2. Defining the Senatorial Aristocracy 3. Aristocratic Men: Social Origins 4. Aristocratic Men: Career Paths 5. Aristocratic Women 6. The Emperor's Influence on Aristocratic Conversion 7. The Aristocrats' Influence on Christianity Tables Appendix 1: Sources, Criteria, and Variables for the Database Appendix 2: Names and Religious Affiliation of Aristocrats in the Study Appendix 3: Sources for the Database-Addenda and Corrigenda to PLRE Appendix 4: High Office Holders Abbreviations and Frequently Cited Works Notes Index 330 $aWhat did it take to cause the Roman aristocracy to turn to Christianity, changing centuries-old beliefs and religious traditions? This title takes a fresh look at this much-debated question, looking at the historical evidence in order to try and understand why pagan aristocrats decided to convert to Christianity. 330 $bWhat did it take to cause the Roman aristocracy to turn to Christianity, changing centuries-old beliefs and religious traditions? Michele Salzman takes a fresh approach to this much-debated question. Focusing on a sampling of individual aristocratic men and women as well as on writings and archeological evidence, she brings new understanding to the process by which pagan aristocrats became Christian, and Christianity became aristocratic. Roman aristocrats would seem to be unlikely candidates for conversion to Christianity. Pagan and civic traditions were deeply entrenched among the educated and politically well-connected. Indeed, men who held state offices often were also esteemed priests in the pagan state cults: these priesthoods were traditionally sought as a way to reinforce one's social position. Moreover, a religion whose texts taught love for one's neighbor and humility, with strictures on wealth and notions of equality, would not have obvious appeal for those at the top of a hierarchical society. Yet somehow in the course of the fourth and early fifth centuries Christianity and the Roman aristocracy met and merged. Examining the world of the ruling class--its institutions and resources, its values and style of life--Salzman paints a fascinating picture, especially of aristocratic women. Her study yields new insight into the religious revolution that transformed the late Roman Empire. 606 $aChristian converts$zRome 606 $aAristocracy (Social class)$xReligious life$zRome 606 $aChristian sociology$xHistory$yEarly church, ca. 30-600 615 0$aChristian converts 615 0$aAristocracy (Social class)$xReligious life 615 0$aChristian sociology$xHistory 676 $a248.240938 700 $aSalzman$b Michele Renee$0166693 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910778188903321 996 $aThe making of a Christian aristocracy$93687766 997 $aUNINA