HISTORY OF ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY

According to the Dublin descriptor, the course aims to provide:

1) the necessary tools to apply methodologies proper to the discipline, to argue competently on the topics and questions dealt with.

2) tools for building independent judgement, capacity for critical analysis, synthesis of new ideas, to be used as possible keys to tackle case studies on religious phenomena.

3) a method for interpreting acquired data, exercising the ability to elaborate possible theses and communicate with technical language and competence the contents of the discipline.  

4) indications for acquiring specialist knowledge independently, using the research and working tools provided during the course.

The course will be mainly based on lectures, giving space to moments of discussion and debate animated by students. The lectures will be integrated by slides and other useful tools to improve the understanding of the proposed topics.

The materials used (powerpoints, papers, sources) will be made available on the STUDIUM.

Optional

Introduction to the History of the Early Christianity with particular attention to the following topics: Jesus of Nazareth – Christianity /Christianities - The Canon and the Sacred Scriptures - Pagans and Christians - Christian Emperors – To Diogneto: Christianity and Identity.

Module A (3 ECTS):

-Storia del cristianesimo. I. L’età antica (secoli I-VII), a cura di E. Prinzivalli, Carocci, Roma 2015: capp. 1-2-3-4 (pp. 15-158) - 6-7-8 (pp. 185-280).

Module B (3 ECTS):

-A Diogneto, a cura di Fabio Ruggiero, Città Nuova, Roma 2020, pp.176.

-T. Sardella, La fine del mondo antico e il problema storiografico della Tarda Antichità: il ruolo del cristianesimo, in ‘Chaos e Chosmos’ 14 (2013), pp. 1-40 (www.chaosekosmos.it).

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.

in itinere test will be on module A = written questionnaire or, based on the number of students, seminar activity on topics related to module A
 (optional).
The correction will be discussed and the results will be announced during class or reception hours.
The vote will be expressed out of thirty and will remain valid for one calendar year.
The in itinere test is a tool to verify the degree of learning achieved, but above all the effectiveness of the study method adopted.
For this reason, this test will be considered in the definition of the final evaluation at the discretion of the students.
 
final oral exam will be on module B (on modules A and B for those who have not completed the in itinere test).
 
For the final judgment on the exam, the in itinere test (in agreement with the student) will be taken into account proportionally, but not strictly
 mathematically. In the evaluation of the oral exam, will be taken into consideration not only the knowledge of the fundamental contents, but also
the mastery of historiographic problems, lexical properties and critical and argumentative skills.
Non-attending students are required to contact the teacher before taking the exam.

- Jesus of Nazareth between story and memory.

- The formation of the Biblical Canon.

- The heresies of the second century.

- The Aryan question.

- The persecutions of Decius and Valerian.

- The figure of Constantine.

- ‘To Diognetus’: historical location and contents.

- The identikit of the Christian in the ‘To Diognetus’.