The City in the Classical and Post-Classical World
Author | : Claudia Rapp |
Publisher | : Cambridge University Press |
Total Pages | : 283 |
Release | : 2014-04-14 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781139916387 |
ISBN-13 | : 1139916386 |
Rating | : 4/5 (386 Downloads) |
Download or read book The City in the Classical and Post-Classical World written by Claudia Rapp and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-04-14 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines the evolving role of the city and citizenship from classical Athens through fifth-century Rome and medieval Byzantium. Beginning in the first century CE, the universal claims of Hellenistic and Roman imperialism began to be challenged by the growing role of Christianity in shaping the primary allegiances and identities of citizens. An international team of scholars considers the extent of urban transformation, and with it, of cultural and civic identity, as practices and institutions associated with the city-state came to be replaced by those of the Christian community. The twelve essays gathered here develop an innovative research agenda by asking new questions: what was the effect on political ideology and civic identity of the transition from the city culture of the ancient world to the ruralized systems of the middle ages? How did perceptions of empire and oikoumene respond to changed political circumstances? How did Christianity redefine the context of citizenship?