The rich and the pure: philanthropy and the making of Christian society in early Byzantium
Prologue : what is a Christian gift? -- Introduction : philanthropy and asceticism in the first affluent Christian society -- A present-giving world -- Give to all who ask of you : the challenge of early Byzantine philanthropy -- Bend your heart to mercy : giving alms in early Byzantine communities...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subito Delivery Service: | Order now. |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Oakland, California
University of Californiarnia Press
[2021]
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| In: |
The transformation of the classical heritage (62)
Year: 2021 |
| Series/Journal: | The transformation of the classical heritage
62 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Byzantine Empire
/ Gift
/ Alms
/ Wealth
/ Charities
/ Christian ethics
/ Social history studies 350-650
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| IxTheo Classification: | CH Christianity and Society KAC Church history 500-1500; Middle Ages |
| Further subjects: | B
Charity
Religious aspects
Christianity
B Byzantine Empire Social aspects 527-1081 B Byzantine Empire Social aspects To 527 B Byzantine Empire Social conditions |
| Online Access: |
Table of Contents Inhaltsverzeichnis (Aggregator) Blurb Literaturverzeichnis |
| Summary: | Prologue : what is a Christian gift? -- Introduction : philanthropy and asceticism in the first affluent Christian society -- A present-giving world -- Give to all who ask of you : the challenge of early Byzantine philanthropy -- Bend your heart to mercy : giving alms in early Byzantine communities -- With your whole soul : from alms to charity in early Byzantine monasticism -- What God has put in your heart : divine patronage and material blessings -- First fruits of the world : fruitbearings, penance and prosperity in the countryside -- Imperishable remembrance : offerings and the rise of patronal monasteries -- Epilogue : when holy men walked the earth. "As the Roman Empire broke down in western Europe, its stability and prosperity moved decisively to the east, producing history's first truly affluent, multi-faceted Christian society, in what is now known as the Byzantine Empire. What united the twenty-four million people living in this vast realm--Roman citizens all, but as diverse as the landscape itself--was a shared conviction in the Christian ideal of philanthrōpia. In this sweeping cultural and social history of Christian philanthropy, Daniel Caner shows this practice involved more than simply a love of humanity; it required living up to Jesus's injunction to 'Give to all who ask of you' by offering mercy and material aid to every human being, whatever their origin or status. Yet this commitment to the common good arose in an aristocratic society marked by sharp gradations of rank and privilege and dominated by an official church experiencing explosive growth and unprecedented affluence. In tracking the evolution of distinctive ideals and modes of Christian giving over three centuries, Caner brings to the fore the people of Byzantium, from the countryside to the lower levels of urban society to the elites, and the complex, hierarchical relationships that these gifts fostered among them. Drawing on an immense range of evidence, The Rich and the Pure offers nothing less than a portrait of the whole of early Byzantine society"-- |
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| Item Description: | Includes bibliographical references and index |
| ISBN: | 0520381580 |