The relevance of Christianity is as hotly contested today as it has ever been. A New History of Early Christianity shows how our current debates are rooted in the many controversies surrounding the birth of the religion and the earliest attempts to resolve them. Charles Freeman's meticulous historical account of Christianity from its birth in Judaea in the first century A.D. to the emergence of Western and Eastern churches by A.D. 600 reveals that it was a distinctive, vibrant, and incredibly diverse movement brought into order at the cost of intellectual and spiritual vitality. Against the conventional narrative of the inevitable “triumph” of a single distinct Christianity, Freeman shows that there was a host of competing Christianities, many of which had as much claim to authenticity as those that eventually dominated. Looking with fresh eyes at the historical record, Freeman explores the ambiguities and contradictions that underlay Christian theology and the unavoidable compromises enforced in the name of doctrine.

Tracing the astonishing transformation that the early Christian church underwent—from sporadic niches of Christian communities surviving in the wake of a horrific crucifixion to sanctioned alliance with the state—Charles Freeman shows how freedom of thought was curtailed by the development of the concept of faith. The imposition of 'correct belief,' religious uniformity, and an institutional framework that enforced orthodoxy were both consolidating and stifling. Uncovering the difficulties in establishing the Christian church, he examines its relationship with Judaism, Gnosticism, Greek philosophy and Greco-Roman society, and he offers dramatic new accounts of Paul, the resurrection, and the church fathers and emperors.

'The Horses' ultimate biography.'ùIndependent on Sunday

'Entertaining and instructive.'ùSpectator

'Lucid and engaging.'ùSunday Telegraph

Praise For A.D. 381

'Exceptional... Of the many excellences in Freeman's book, not least are the eloquence, grace, and subtlety of argument with which he presents his case. Invaluable.'ùLibrary Journal

'Freeman does a good job in forcing a re-examination of this crucial turning point.'ùKirkus

'Clearly written, well organized, and compellingly argued, A.D. 381 provides an absorbing window into 'one of the most important moments in the history of European thought.''ùHouston Chronicle

'Freeman's exploration of the `swansong of free speech' makes distant events intensely relevant.'ùIndependent (UK)

The story of the Horses of St Mark's has been entwined with the history of Venice from the moment of their arrival in the city, in the early thirteenth century, as part of the plunder from the Venetian sack of Constantinople. Ever since, they have intrigued onlookers with their mystery. Where were they made? Were they Greek or Roman? Why were they cast in copper and not bronze with its far lower melting point? Over the centuries they became an inspiration for painters and sculptors and found a place in the heart of three majestic cities: Constantinople; Venice, from its greatness to its fall in 1797; the Paris of Napoleon; and then back to Venice, the most romantic city in the world.

In this remarkable book, Charles Freeman is finally able to reveal both the birthplace and the creator of these magnificent gilded horses. It is a superb account of the statues and the societies in which they were displayed: a story of theirùand ourùtimes.

China has emerged as an economic powerhouse with an increasing role on the world stage. China's Rise will help the United States comprehend the facts and dynamics underpinning China's rise--an understanding that becomes more imortant with each passing day. Filled with facts for policymakers, this much-anticipated book's accessible style will also appeal to the general reader through its relevant discussion of China's foreign policy, military modernization, economic growth, and energy and the environment.

€ 14,90

Armchair travelers and history buffs alike will thrill to the beautiful illustrations, floor plans, and maps that complement Sites of Antiquity as it traces the evolution of the Classical world through fifty of its greatest sites. From the Egypt of the pharaohs through the democracies of Greece to the fall of Imperial Rome, this handsome volume reflects the perennial Blue Guides' strengths in erudition and research.

This updated study guide for the latest release of the most popular database software in the world—Oracle Database 11g— reviews using the RMAN recovery catalog, handling Flashback technology, managing memory and resources, automating tasks, diagnosing the database, and much more. Plus, more than 100 pages of workbook exercises help prepare you to take the 1Z0-053 exam.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

China has emerged as an economic powerhouse with an increasing role on the world stage. China's Rise will help the United States comprehend the facts and dynamics underpinning China's rise--an understanding that becomes more imortant with each passing day. Filled with facts for policymakers, this much-anticipated book's accessible style will also appeal to the general reader through its relevant discussion of China's foreign policy, military modernization, economic growth, and energy and the environment.

€ 29,40

A radical and powerful reappraisal of the impact of Constantine's adoption of Christianity on the later Roman world, and on the subsequent development both of Christianity and of Western civilization.

When the Emperor Contstantine converted to Christianity in 368 AD, he changed the course of European history in ways that continue to have repercussions to the present day. Adopting those aspects of the religion that suited his purposes, he turned Rome on a course from the relatively open, tolerant and pluralistic civilization of the Hellenistic world, towards a culture that was based on the rule of fixed authority, whether that of the Bible, or the writings of Ptolemy in astronomy and of Galen and Hippocrates in medicine. Only a thousand years later, with the advent of the Renaissance and the emergence of modern science, did Europe begin to free itself from the effects of Constantine's decision, yet the effects of his establishment of Christianity as a state religion remain with us, in many respects, today. Brilliantly wide-ranging and ambitious, this is a major work of history.