Author Description
Tertullian lived and wrote in Roman Carthage during the reigns of Septimus Severus (193-211) and his son Caracalla (211-217). His voluminous tracts and pamphlets reveal the atmosphere of early Christianity in an era of persecution. The author sets Tertullian's writings within a chronological and historical framework, then uses them to interpret Tertullian's intellectial development, his reaction to the society in which he lived, and his place in Latin literature.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the intellectual development and historical significance of the early Christian writer Tertullian within the context of Roman Carthage. Timothy David Barnes, a scholar of Roman history, utilizes a rigorous chronological framework to analyze Tertullian's extensive body of work. By situating these texts against the backdrop of the reigns of Septimus Severus and Caracalla, the author reconstructs the social and political pressures that shaped early Christian thought and Latin literature.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A detailed chronological reconstruction of Tertullian's life and writing career.
- An analysis of the socio-political atmosphere in Roman Carthage during the third century.
- A critical examination of Tertullian's influence on the development of Latin Christian literature.
- An assessment of the author's intellectual responses to contemporary persecution and societal norms.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of Roman history and early Christian theology. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the period.
Page Count:
340
Publication Date:
1985-10-10
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198143621
ISBN-13:
9780198143628
Religion
History
Biography
Christianity
Ancient History
Literary Criticism
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