Module overview
The first century CE saw the rise of a new world religion that was to have an ever changing and at times turbulent history up to today. This module will explore the historical origins of Christianity and the contexts from which it emerged. In particular, we will examine Jewish society in the Graeco-Roman world, which produced the first Christians, and the Palestinian scene under Roman rule at the time. We will investigate reactions to early Christianity in Graeco-Roman and Jewish literature and histories, including how its members were viewed as a rebellious minority and perceptions of their ideas as ‘excessive superstition’ and a ‘contagion’ (Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96-97). We will also look at the search for identity and recognition amongst the earliest Christians, particularly in relation to the Jewish people, as they began to establish, develop and expand their new religion. The module will invite you to assess and debate the historical origins of one the key religions that has shaped the modern world.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Analyse critically a diverse range of primary material
- Identify and critically assess scholarly views and arguments
- Develop an interdisciplinary approach to historical studies
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Debates on the factors that affected the historical and ideological development of early Christianity
- The relationships between Jews, early Christians and Romans in Late Antiquity
- The historical and social context of early Christianity in Graeco-Roman Palestine in the first centuries CE
- The origins of Christianity in Second Temple Judaism and Graeco-Roman religion and philosophy
- Key primary sources that provide evidence on the historical origins of Christianity and contemporary responses to its development
- The latest research on the subjects of early Christianity, the history of Graeco-Roman Palestine and Jewish-Christian-Roman relations
- The complex formation of Christian identity, especially in relation to Second Temple Judaism
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Participate actively in group discussions and debate
- Organise and structure material to write and present confidently
- Communicate a coherent and convincing argument in both oral and written formats
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Express familiarity with and interpret critically a variety of primary sources from Late Antiquity
- Explain and discuss the factors that impacted on the historical and ideological development of early Christianity
- Evaluate reactions and responses to the early Christian movement amongst Jewish and pagan Roman groups
- Explain your own views on debates within the fields of early Christianity and Jewish-Christian-Roman relations in Late Antiquity
- Analyse fundamental concepts in Second Temple Judaism and Roman philosophy in relation to early Christian ideology
- Evaluate critically the theoretical and methodological approaches used by scholars working on early Christianity
Syllabus
Reference will be made throughout to the historical and social context of Graeco-Roman Palestine. Typically, the module will cover the following topics:
-Introductory sessions: concepts and approaches
-Second Temple Judaism
-Early Christian writings and groups
-Responses to early Christianity especially as reflected in Graeco-Roman and Jewish literature
-The development of Christian identities and the ‘parting of the ways’
-Conclusions
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
-Weekly lectures focusing on key events, chronology and concepts, including lecturer-led examination and discussion of sources
-A weekly seminar focusing on examination and discussion of primary and secondary source material and the key issues of debate they raise
Learning activities include:
-Preparatory reading before each seminar
-Participation in group and seminar discussion
-Independent reading of the sources provided and of related -secondary works
-Preparing and delivering short oral presentations on primary sources
-Independent research of additional information and source materials
Lectures will provide you with general knowledge and understanding about chronology, sources and key concepts. This will be consolidated through readings and seminar discussions of primary and secondary source material. Discussion in seminars will help you to develop your own ideas about a topic, to analyse a range of source material and to articulate a critical argument.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 264 |
| Teaching | 36 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Shaye Cohen (1987). From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Philadelphia: Westminster Press.
Daniel Boyarin (1994). A Radical Jew: Paul and the Politics of Identity. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assessments designed to provide informal feedback: -You will engage in small group exercises, focusing on specific formative tasks, which will be reviewed in class -You will be encouraged to discuss preparation for your formal assessment with your tutor -You will have the opportunity to seek individual advice on your work in progress from your tutor -Guidance and advice on preparation, completion and presentation of assignments will be available to youSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written assignment | 40% |
| Essay | 60% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written assignment | 40% |
| Essay | 60% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 60% |
| Written assignment | 40% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External