Change of Era: The Origins of Christian Culture through the Lens of Archaeology

Delve into early Christianity

On this four-week course, you’ll gain a better understanding of a crucial period in history – one characterised by deep political, economic, cultural, and environmental transformations in the context of the end of the Western Roman Empire.

You’ll explore the emergence of the Christian world through early Christian texts and case studies of archaeological sites, key objects, and inscriptions.

By the end, you’ll understand what methods we can use to study early Christianity, what problems we need to investigate, and why it is important to study the origins of the Christian era.

Explore Christian iconography and buildings

You’ll unpack the origins of Christian iconography and culture before analysing Christian artefacts to understand their historical context and meaning.

You’ll also investigate churches and how we can use archaeology to better understand their meaning, who built them, and why.

With this knowledge, you’ll discover how constructing holy places can help create a sensibility for cultural heritage.

Understand the link between religion and politics

You’ll delve into politics and Christianity to help you investigate the connections and causations between different historical events.

Next, you’ll explore how innovative scientific methodologies are adding vital information to help us gain a better understanding of the past.

Learn from the experts at University of Padova

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the Mediaeval archaeologists from the University of Padova.

With their expertise, you’ll understand how to study the origins of Christian culture to gain a deeper insight into history.

This course is designed for beginners in the study of early Christianity. It will be particularly useful for university students, professionals who would like to update their knowledge, and those who are simply fascinated by the subject.

• The origins of a Christian culture
• In the beginning
• Representing the Gospels
• Synthesis
• The image of a new culture
• The making of a new Christian culture
• Death, memory, and salvation
• Martyrs and relics
• Christian cemeteries
• Constantine and the birth of monumental christian architecture
• What do we know of churches before Constantine?
• Divine symbols
• The churches built by Constantine
• Religion and politics in the early christian mediterranean
• The end of the Western Empire and the new western world
• Diverse Christianities
• Conquest, religion, and architecture in the sixth century Mediterranean
• Final synthesis