Making of a Christian Empire, The
Book Description
In the pivotal centuries when Rome transformed from a pagan empire into the foundation of Christian civilization, one scholar's bold vision helped shape the course of history. Elizabeth DePalma Digeser reveals how Lactantius, an early Christian intellectual, crafted a revolutionary blueprint for integrating faith and governance that would influence emperors and reshape an empire.
Through careful examination of Lactantius's Divine Institutes, Digeser uncovers a sophisticated theological and philosophical framework that emerged during one of Christianity's darkest hours. Written as a response to Emperor Diocletian's brutal persecution of Christians, this work dared to propose something unprecedented: a monotheistic state that could unite and strengthen the Roman Empire through shared spiritual principles.
What makes this exploration particularly compelling is how Digeser traces the connection between persecution and transformation. The very text that was once considered seditious eventually became influential in guiding Constantine the Great, Rome's first Christian emperor, as he navigated the complex task of creating a Christian empire.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual movements can reshape entire civilizations, this scholarly work offers insights into the delicate interplay between faith, politics, and social transformation. Digeser demonstrates how one thinker's theological vision became a practical guide for reimagining governance itself, showing how deeply held spiritual convictions can ultimately transform the structures of power and society.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 199 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Rome, civilization
- ✓ Explore Influence
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Church history, primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
- ✓ Explore Civilization
- ✓ Explore Rome, history, empire, 30 b.c.-476 a.d.
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Church and state
