Alexander to Constantine
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Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume III
Eric M. Meyers and Mark A. Chancey
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Format: ClothPrice: $40.00
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The definitive book on the archaeology of Palestine from Alexander the Great’s conquest to Constantine’s reign
Drawing on the most recent, groundbreaking archaeological research, Eric M. Meyers and Mark A. Chancey re-narrate the history of ancient Palestine in this richly illustrated and expertly integrated book. Spanning from the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BCE until the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine in the fourth century CE, they synthesize archaeological evidence with ancient literary sources (including the Bible) to offer a sustained overview of the tumultuous intellectual and religious changes that impacted world history during the Greco-Roman period.
The authors demonstrate how the transformation of the ancient Near East under the influence of the Greeks and then the Romans led to foundational changes in both the material and intellectual worlds of the Levant. Palestine's subjection to Hellenistic kingdoms, its rule by the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties, the two disastrous Jewish revolts against Rome, and its full incorporation into the Roman Empire provide a background for the emergence of Christianity. The authors observe in the archaeological record how Judaism and Christianity were virtually undistinguishable for centuries, until the rise of imperial Christianity with Emperor Constantine.
The only book-length overview available that focuses on the archaeology of Palestine in this period, this comprehensive and powerfully illuminating work sheds new light on the lands of the Bible.
“Alexander to Constantine is an eminently fair and holistic vision of a formative period of Western Civilization. Beautifully written and illustrated, it offers a snap shot of contemporary scholarship, an entree into a world inhabited by the likes of not only Alexander and Constantine, but by Herod, Jesus, Hillel and Bar Kokhba.”—Steven Fine, Yeshiva University
“This is a masterful, synthetic work, both erudite and readable. Archaeological material culture, epigraphic texts, numismatic evidence, and historical and literary texts are all elegantly handled and judiciously assessed. Professors Meyers and Chancey have produced a veritable sine qua non.”—Christopher Rollston, Emmanuel School of Religion
“Magnificent—a major achievement for academics and non-academics alike! Meyers and Chancey unfold the entire material culture of ancient Palestine, the world of pagans, Jews and early Christians. Lavishly illustrated and a pleasure to read, this book sets standards for years to come.”—Jürgen Zangenberg, Leiden University
“Comprehensive and reliable . . . a great achievement, just the kind of work we have needed for many years.”—Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., America
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
17 color + 170 b/w illus.; 10 maps
