Did the Roman Empire really wage a war against Christians and their God?
Dr. James Corke-WebsterHistory remembers the persecution of early Christians as a clash between the Roman state and its traditional gods, and the new Christian cult and its upstart God. But is that really all there is to the story?
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The persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire has always been remembered as a clash of religious ideologies – a war between the Roman state and its traditional gods on the one hand, and the new Christian cult and its upstart God on the other.
But is all as it seems? And if not, what actually occurred?
One of our favourite Garden Fellows, James Corke-Webster from Kings College London, is the historian who's going to help us work it out. Has history misunderstood not just how this persecution worked, but even who was actually responsible for it?
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50 minutes
30 minute talk
20 minute Member Q&A
Dr James Corke-Webster is a Senior Lecturer in Classics, History and Liberal Arts, and Co-Director of the Centre for Late Antique and Medieval Studies.
Persecution Collection
Throughout history, humans have found ways to oppress and malign those they feel they're in opposition to, whether because of ethnicity or beliefs. In this collection, we're exploring the legacy of persecutions past, and why they're such a recurring theme.History remembers the persecution of early Christians as a clash between the Roman state and its traditional gods, and the new Christian cult and its upstart God. But is that really all there is to the story?
What's driving us when we act as a collective? And why does modern life mean more people feel persecuted than ever before?
Witch hunting is, by and large, a thing of the past, yet we remain captivated by the concept. What drives this fascination, and why are we still talking about witch hunts today?
