Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) by Watts (PDF)

Description

A compelling history of radical transformation in the fourth-century–when Christianity decimated the practices of traditional pagan religion in the Roman Empire.The Final Pagan Generation recounts the fascinating story of the lives and fortunes of the last Romans born before the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. Edward J. Watts traces their experiences of living through the fourth century’s dramatic religious and political changes, when heated confrontations saw the Christian establishment legislate against pagan practices as mobs attacked pagan holy sites and temples. The emperors who issued these laws, the imperial officials charged with implementing them, and the Christian perpetrators of religious violence were almost exclusively young men whose attitudes and actions contrasted markedly with those of the earlier generation, who shared neither their juniors’ interest in creating sharply defined religious identities nor their propensity for violent conflict. Watts examines why the “final pagan generation”—born to the old ways and the old world in which it seemed to everyone that religious practices would continue as they had for the past two thousand years—proved both unable to anticipate the changes that imperially sponsored Christianity produced and unwilling to resist them. A compelling and provocative read, suitable for the general reader as well as students and scholars of the ancient world.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Edward J. Watts is Alkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Chair and Professor of History at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny, among other books.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Across the board, it is a good read to understand what was happening in the 4th century in the Roman Empire and to get an understanding of the everyday life of a Roman citizen from young age to retirement. The author does a good job explaining not only what social systems are in place for various age groups, but what the expectations were for people in various social classes within the Empire. He then takes that framework and explains how the historical changes effected thse systems as the empire shifted from a polytheistic state to a Christian one.The only criticism I have is that there were times where a Christian emperor would pass laws that would effect the polytheistic communities, but for the most part he seemed to downplay their reactions until the late 4th century when the temple destruction was reved up and then he addressed criticisms by the upper class. However he did say that the conflict between the Christians and the Roman polytheists was not the focus of his work. Despite this, it is a good read and I recommend it for anyone looking to get a better understanding of the time period and Roman daily life.

⭐Dr. Watts offers an insightful and very readable account of a generation that witnessed the fading of an era and the dawning of another that shaped an emerging Europe that replaced the western Roman Empire. What is fascinating about the book is how it illustrates that Christianity did not replace the classical Roman culture overnight but grew for years along side it as key figures of the time held on to long- established customs and ideals in face of new norms and cultural-religious practices took hold and dominance. The book is an engaging read in giving us the perspective of these figures and in doing so offers insights for our own time of transition and rapid change in values and long-held beliefs. I highly recommend Ed Watts excellent work.

⭐How depressing that we had to go through the dark ages [900 years of regression]}due to the stupidity of the so -called “Christians”.Think of all the destroyed art, medicine, music, literature, science, etc..

⭐The Final Pagan Generation depicts the rise and fall of the last non Christian Roman elites. It’s portrayal of men so preoccupied with careers and livelihoods that they missed the signal transformation of their era will make readers wonder what they are missing in their own lives.

⭐A very informative overview of a specific time in history, told by the author through the lives of a handful of the people who lived through it. Very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it.

⭐okay

⭐very informative

⭐This is a very interesting account of the last generation of Roman elite born into a predominantly pagan empire. Watts does a very good job providing context but in places it’s still very much a specialist’s book. So if I were a keen student of the era I would probably give it 5 stars.

⭐Both an interesting history of the way Christianity replaced the Roman religion and a lesson for our time on religious intolerance.

⭐It is with Libanius, Themistius, Ausonius and Praetextatus’ letters and orations’s that Eward J Watts, takes us thru that pivotal century.Very well explained and thorouhgly argued (more then a hundred pages worth of notes). Watts goes thru a chronological narrative in which each chapter is concentrated on one specific time and or event that helps explain the changes. Very well writting, clearly exposed points and a resume of the thoughts at the end of each chapters makes this book very easy to understand and follow.It is an accesible book for everyone. Recommend it…

⭐This book captures the mood and atmosphere of the late Roman Empire and how the transition out of the classical era affected the people that lived through it.Detailed and incredibly sourced, it tells the story of the transformation of the roman world through the eyes of the people that lived through it.

Keywords

Free Download Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) in PDF format
Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) PDF Free Download
Download Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) 2020 PDF Free
Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) 2020 PDF Free Download
Download Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage) PDF
Free Download Ebook Final Pagan Generation (Transformation of the Classical Heritage)