Syllabus
The main topics: 1/ The historicity of Jesus 2/ The historicity of selected New Testament stories featuring Jesus 3/ The beginnings of the early churches in the Roman world 4/ The alternative concepts behind what is considered the mainstream 5/ Paul in Athens and the altar of the 'Unknown God' 6/ The historicity of Peter’s sojourn to Rome 7/ The split between early Christianity and Judaism 8/ The development of the New Testament canon
Annotation
The very beginnings of Christianity, to a historian's interest, remain in obscurity. Sources apt to be considered impartial to some degree are meagre, while the not-so-impartial ones, such as the New Testament writings, ought to be used at least with some caution.
During the run of the course this will be demonstrated on issues involving some early Christianity's famous figures, and the processes involved in its formation. Throughout these excursions the main focus will always remain on the sources and the possibilities they offer when trying to reach any kind of conclusion.