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.
#320934 in Books 2013-10-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.63 x .40 x 7.50l; .80 #File Name: 0520272021128 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An atlas that looks at California through the lens and measure of social justice and equality.By Miroku NemethI bought this after hearing an incredibly engaging interview with the author on KPFA. This is not a conventional atlas; but looks at the history and contemporary reality of California through the lens and measure of social justice and equality. I learned so much; and will continue to return to it as a reference in life and in my work as a teacher.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Really InterestingBy Mrs. TrufflesMy daughter bought this for a class she is taking in college. I took a look at it when it arrived; and it is full of interesting facts; easily understood charts; and colorful illustrations! I want to take the class with her...not that she will let me.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. This has some good information but also includes quite a bit of fillerBy Alexander LemieuxThis has some good information but also includes quite a bit of filler. The tone is also extremely didactic and partisan; which leads one to question the data and its presentation. There are a few topics with which I happen to be fairly immersed and could see the presentation was misleading and agitpropish. In the forward the authors mention that they "make no pretense of neutrality" and rhetorically ask "is such advocacy a violation of the honest goals of a California Atlas?" Unfortunately; for me the answer to that question is "Well; kind of; bro." Overall this is about half good content and useful maps and half campaign literature of dubious accuracy. I could recommend this with some reservations if a good price is being offered.
