Ancient African Christianity: An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition

Description

Christianity spread across North Africa early, and it remained there as a powerful force much longer than anticipated. While this African form of Christianity largely shared the Latin language and Roman culture of the wider empire, it also represented a unique tradition that was shaped by its context. Ancient African Christianity attempts to tell the story of Christianity in Africa from its inception to its eventual disappearance. Well-known writers such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine are studied in light of their African identity, and this tradition is explored in all its various expressions. This book is ideal for all students of African Christianity and also a key introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the history, religion, and philosophy of these early influential Christians whose impact has extended far beyond the African landscape. Preface Chapter One: Introduction Preliminary Concerns Question 1: What is meant by "Ancient African Christianity"? Question 2: Why study ancient African Christianity? Question 3: What makes African Christians unique? Question 4: What is the purpose of this book? Introducing Ancient African Christians: An Overview Pre-Christian Africa The Beginnings of Christian Africa Christian Africa in the Fourth Century The Last Days of Ancient African Christianity History and Ancient African Christians 　 Chapter Two: Backgrounds to Early African Christianity Romanization: From Culture to Ethnicity to Identity African (Identity) Politics African Languages African Art African Religions African Appearance 　 Chapter Three: The Earliest Evidence of African Christianity Tertullian on the Earliest African Christians African Christian Origins The Scillitan Martyrs Perpetua, Felicity, and their Fellow Martyrs African Christianity in the Late Second and Early Third Century Legacies and Later Trajectories 　 Chapter Four: Tertullian Tertullian’s Life Tertullian the Legalist Tertullian the Fideist Tertullian the Priest Tertullian the Montanist Tertullian the Misogynist Tertullian the Roman Tertullian the African Works and Teachings Tertullian the African Legacy and Later Trajectories 　 　 Chapter Five: Cyprian and the Later Third Century Minucius Felix Cyprian Persecution Controversies His Works and Teachings Cyprian the African That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint) Commodian Late Third Century Martyrdoms 　 Chapter Six: The Early Fourth Century in Africa Christian Records from the Early Fourth Century Arnobius of Sicca Arnobian Theology What was African about Arnobius? Lactantius Works and Teachings What was African about Lactantius? 　 Chapter Seven: The Donatist Controversy Identifying Donatists The Beginning of the Schism Appeals to Constantine Escalation of Violence and Persecution Donatist Diversity and Decline The End of Donatism? Reassessing Donatist Characteristics What was African about the Donatists? Conclusions and Caveats 　 Chapter Eight: Augustine the African Augustine’s Life and Legacy Augustine’s Works and Teachings What was African about Augustine? Augustine’s African Background Accusations about Augustine’s Identity Self-Identifying as an African 　 Chapter Nine: The Vandal Era of African Christianity The Vandal Invasion of Africa Vandals, Catholics, and Donatists Vandal Expansion of Power The End of the Vandal Kingdom 　 　 Chapter Ten: The Late Byzantine Era in Africa Justinian’s Re-Conquest of Africa The African Three Chapters Controversy Gregory the Great Maximus the Confessor Conclusion about Byzantine Africa 　 Chapter Eleven: The Arab Conquests in Africa Understanding the Sources and Background History of the Conquest Survival of Evidence and Evidence of Survival Characteristics of Late African Christianity Reasons for African Christianity’s Disappearance Political Power Theory Christian Exodus Theory Decapitation Theory House Divided Theory Cultural Gap Theory Theological Syncretism Theory Political Pragmatism Theory Tentative Conclusions on African Christianity’s End 　 Chapter Twelve: What was African about Ancient African Christianity? Summary of Findings Elements Found in the "African School" Further Considerations Potential Implications 　 Bibliography Abbreviations Ancient Sources Cited (and critical editions and translations, when used) Secondary Sources