eBook - ePub
The Rich and the Pure
Philanthropy and the Making of Christian Society in Early Byzantium
- 440 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
The Rich and the Pure
Philanthropy and the Making of Christian Society in Early Byzantium
About this book
A portrait of history’s first complex Christian society as seen through the lens of Christian philanthropy and gift giving
As the Roman Empire broke down in western Europe, its prosperity moved decisively eastward, to what is now known as the Byzantine Empire. Here was born history’s first truly affluent, multifaceted Christian society. One of the ideals used to unite the diverse millions of people living in this vast realm was the Christianized ideal of philanthrōpia. In this sweeping cultural and social history, Daniel Caner shows how philanthropy required living up to Jesus’s injunction to “Give to all who ask of you,” by offering mercy and/or material aid to every human being, regardless of their origin or status.
Caner shows how Christian philanthropy became articulated through distinct religious ideals of giving that helped define proper social relations among the rich, the poor, and “the pure” (Christian holy people), resulting in new and enduring social expectations. In tracking the evolution of Christian giving over three centuries, he brings to the fore the concerns of the peoples of Early Byzantium, from the countryside to the lower levels of urban society to the imperial elites, as well as the hierarchical relationships that arose among them. The Rich and the Pure offers nothing less than a portrait of the whole of early Byzantine society.
As the Roman Empire broke down in western Europe, its prosperity moved decisively eastward, to what is now known as the Byzantine Empire. Here was born history’s first truly affluent, multifaceted Christian society. One of the ideals used to unite the diverse millions of people living in this vast realm was the Christianized ideal of philanthrōpia. In this sweeping cultural and social history, Daniel Caner shows how philanthropy required living up to Jesus’s injunction to “Give to all who ask of you,” by offering mercy and/or material aid to every human being, regardless of their origin or status.
Caner shows how Christian philanthropy became articulated through distinct religious ideals of giving that helped define proper social relations among the rich, the poor, and “the pure” (Christian holy people), resulting in new and enduring social expectations. In tracking the evolution of Christian giving over three centuries, he brings to the fore the concerns of the peoples of Early Byzantium, from the countryside to the lower levels of urban society to the imperial elites, as well as the hierarchical relationships that arose among them. The Rich and the Pure offers nothing less than a portrait of the whole of early Byzantine society.
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Yes, you can access The Rich and the Pure by Daniel Caner in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Byzantine History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Imprint
- Subvention
- Title
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Prologue: What Is a Christian Gift?
- Map
- Timeline
- Introduction
- 1. The Present-Giving World of Early Byzantium
- 2. “Give to All Who Ask of You”: The Challenge of Early Byzantine Philanthropy
- 3. “Bend Your Heart to Mercy”: Almsgiving and the Christian Advocacy of Social Compassion
- 4. “Give It with Your Whole Soul”: From Alms to Charity in Early Byzantine Monasticism
- 5. “What God Has Put in Your Heart to Give”: Divine Patronage, Sacred Wealth, and Material Blessings
- 6. “You Are the Firstfruits of the World”: Monasticism, Fruitbearings, and Prosperity in the Countryside
- 7. “Imperishable Remembrance in Heaven and Earth”: Liturgical Offerings and the Rise of Patronal Monasteries
- Epilogue: When Holy Men Walked the Earth
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index