Christianity, Book-Burning and Censorship in Late Antiquity: Studies in Text Transmission

It is estimated that only a small fraction, less than 1 per cent, of ancient literature has survived to the present day. The role of Christian authorities in the active suppression and destruction of books in Late Antiquity has received surprisingly little sustained consideration by academics. In an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte
Main Author: Rohmann, Dirk 1975- (Author)
Format: Electronic Book
Language:English
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Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Berlin Boston De Gruyter 2016
In: Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte (Volume 135)
Reviews:[Rezension von: Rohmann, Dirk, 1975-, Christianity, book-burning and censorship in late Antiquity] (2019) (Macé, Caroline)
Series/Journal:Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte Volume 135
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Church / Book burning / Censorship / Classical antiquity / Literature
B Roman Empire / Book production / Censorship / Book burning / History 100-500
B Censorship / Church / History 100-500
Further subjects:B Epikureische Philosophie
B Prohibited books History
B Book burning History
B Censorship
B Church History
B Church History Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
B Prohibited books
B Book burning
B Censorship Religious aspects Christianity History
B Christliche Polemik
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Description
Summary:It is estimated that only a small fraction, less than 1 per cent, of ancient literature has survived to the present day. The role of Christian authorities in the active suppression and destruction of books in Late Antiquity has received surprisingly little sustained consideration by academics. In an approach that presents evidence for the role played by Christian institutions, writers and saints, this book analyses a broad range of literary and legal sources, some of which have hitherto been little studied. Paying special attention to the problem of which genres and book types were likely to be targeted, the author argues that in addition to heretical, magical, astrological and anti-Christian books, other less obviously subversive categories of literature were also vulnerable to destruction, censorship or suppression through prohibition of the copying of manuscripts. These include texts from materialistic philosophical traditions, texts which were to become the basis for modern philosophy and science. This book examines how Christian authorities, theologians and ideologues suppressed ancient texts and associated ideas at a time of fundamental transformation in the late classical world.
ISBN:3110484455