The rich and the pure : philanthropy and the making of Christian society in early Byzantium / Daniel Caner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Caner, Daniel, author.

Series:

Transformation of the classical heritage ; 62.

Transformation of the classical heritage ; LXII

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Charity--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Charity.

Social aspects.

Byzantine Empire--Social aspects--To 527.

Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Empire--Social aspects--527-1081.

Physical Description:

xix, 410 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2021]

Summary:

"As the Roman Empire broke down in western Europe, its stability and prosperity moved decisively to the east, producing history's first truly affluent, multi-faceted Christian society, in what is now known as the Byzantine Empire. What united the twenty-four million people living in this vast realm--Roman citizens all, but as diverse as the landscape itself--was a shared conviction in the Christian ideal of philanthrōpia. In this sweeping cultural and social history of Christian philanthropy, Daniel Caner shows this practice involved more than simply a love of humanity; it required living up to Jesus's injunction to 'Give to all who ask of you' by offering mercy and material aid to every human being, whatever their origin or status. Yet this commitment to the common good arose in an aristocratic society marked by sharp gradations of rank and privilege and dominated by an official church experiencing explosive growth and unprecedented affluence. In tracking the evolution of distinctive ideals and modes of Christian giving over three centuries, Caner brings to the fore the people of Byzantium, from the countryside to the lower levels of urban society to the elites, and the complex, hierarchical relationships that these gifts fostered among them. Drawing on an immense range of evidence, The Rich and the Pure offers nothing less than a portrait of the whole of early Byzantine society"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Prologue : what is a Christian gift?

Introduction : philanthropy and asceticism in the first affluent Christian society

A present-giving world

Give to all who ask of you : the challenge of early Byzantine philanthropy

Bend your heart to mercy : giving alms in early Byzantine communities

With your whole soul : from alms to charity in early Byzantine monasticism

What God has put in your heart : divine patronage and material blessings

First fruits of the world : fruitbearings, penance and prosperity in the countryside

Imperishable remembrance : offerings and the rise of patronal monasteries

Epilogue : when holy men walked the earth.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Caner, Daniel. The rich and the pure

ISBN:

9780520381582

0520381580

OCLC:

1204268088