The Christians and the Roman Empire - by Marta Sordi (Paperback)

About the Book

The Christians and the Roman Empire overturns the myth of an unrelenting persecution of the subversive, Christian "outlaw." Using contemporary sources and authentic documents --including imperial edicts and records of the deeds of non-legendary martyrs--Marta Sordi shows that the conflict was primarily religious and almost never political.

Book Synopsis

The Christians and the Roman Empire overturns the myth of an unrelenting persecution of the subversive, Christian "outlaw." Using contemporary sources and authentic documents --including imperial edicts and records of the deeds of non-legendary martyrs--Marta Sordi shows that the conflict was primarily religious and almost never political. The Christians actually continued to profess their loyalty to the Roman Empire during the periods of persecution, and the Empire, which almost never thought of the Christians as a threat to security, often found itself acting simply as the secular arm of religious authorities during these periods of social and cultural intolerance.

Review Quotes

"A thought-provoking and valuable study . . . it belongs on the reading list of every student of the period."--Classical Outlook

"Sordi knows much about the early church and the Roman Empire. . . . She has given us a challenging book, well worth reading."--American Historical Review