Oct 05, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire
This course explores the interactions between ancient paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire from the 1st to 4th centuries as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire. Students will learn how Judaism and polytheistic religions influenced Christianity, and in turn how Christianity reshaped the society and government of the late Roman Empire through the examination of writings from ancient historians, Jewish and Christian sacred texts, Christian and pagan apologists, philosophy, art and archaeology.
Credit Hours: 3
OHIO BRICKS: Pillar: Humanities: Text and Contexts
General Education Code (students who entered prior to Fall 2021-22): 2HL
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
College Credit Plus: Level 1
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will be able to employ the principles, terminology, and methods of classical studies and ancient history to present a position on an issue related to this period and present a written argument expressing the basis on which that opinion is formed.
- Students will be able to analyze, interpret, and evaluate evidence from material culture as well as from literary sources in reaching conclusions about early Judaism, Christianity, and paganism.
- Students will be able to explain Constantine’s role in the spread of Christianity in the 4th century.
- Students will be able to explain the nature and context of different kinds of evidence about the relationship between early Judaism, Christianity, and paganism.
- Students will be able to identify and explain the underlying principles of paganism as it was practiced in the Greco Roman world.
- Students will be able to communicate concepts and evidence related to the ways in which 1st Century Christianity defined itself in relation to Judaism.
- Students will be able to analyze and state their own conclusions about the historical study of ancient religions using evidence from material and literary sources.
- Students will be able to explain the ethical issues related to the study of religions and how the understanding of multiple religious traditions can make them more informed citizens.
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