| Unit name | Early and Premodern Christianity |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS20100 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Muessig |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
An examination of major developments in Christian theology and history from the early Church to 1500. Topics covered include the developments of theology in the early Church; the Age of Constantine and the spread of Christianity; Christian, Jewish and Muslim relations in the Middle Ages; scholastic and monastic thought; saints, heresy and orthodoxy, and popular devotion.
On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed understanding of early and premodern Christianity; (2) gained an in-depth understanding of the historical and theological contexts informing the role of Christian theology and practice; 3) demonstrated the ability to critically analyse and evaluate competing perceptions of how Christian history and thought; (4) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument.
1 lecture + 1 seminar per week
One summative coursework essay of 2500 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%).
Peter Brown, The Cult of the Saints: its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity (London: SCM Press, 1981).
The Cambridge companion to religious studies [electronic resource] / edited by Robert A. Orsi (2012)
The Cambridge companion to the age of Constantine [electronic resource]. Edited by Noel Lenski (2007)
E. G. Hinson, The Early Church: Origins to the Dawn of the Middle Ages (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997)
J. McManners (ed.), The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity (Oxford, 1992)
Miri Rubin, ed., Medieval Christianity in practice. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009.
