This course explores the variety of religious practices and traditions that flourished in the richly pluralistic context of the Roman Mediterranean, from roughly the first through the fifth centuries of the Common Era—the period in which early Judaism and Christianity emerged on the scene. We will consider a range of religious expressions, including myths and stories, philosophy, ritual practice, archaeology and art, encountering a world that is truly different from our own and yet strangely familiar as well. The goal of the course is to learn to think critically about religion, religious pluralism, and the encounter between polytheistic and monotheistic traditions, while also developing skills in historical analysis, textual interpretation, and writing. In addition, this course counts toward History (HIST) and Bibliographic Research in Writing (BRW) requirements.
- Teacher: Daniel Kimmel