Development and influence between Paganism and Christianity from 380 to 600 AD

Abstract

This research project explores the complex dynamics of interaction, conflict, and transformation between Paganism and Christianity from 380 to 600 AD, a critical period in Late Antiquity marked by religious, cultural, and political shifts. The transition inaugurated by the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 AD, which established Nicene Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, initiated a prolonged and uneven process of Christianization throughout imperial territories. In this research project, particular emphasis is placed on the fact that this transformation was neither uniform nor immediate. Pagan cults continued to be practiced in various regions, especially in rural environments, well into the sixth century. The analysis has been conducted across different provinces of the Roman Empire to highlight regional variations and the socio-religious factors that conditioned the pace and form of Christian expansion. A central objective of the project is to investigate not only the resistance of pagan traditions but also the internal plurality of Christian expression during this era. Far from being monolithic, late antique Christianity manifested itself in diverse and sometimes conflicting theological, liturgical, and social forms, leading many scholars to speak of "Christianities" rather than a single unified entity. This research also considers the significant role played by rhetoric, law, and violence in the Christian construction of the category of "pagan" and the discursive strategies used by ecclesiastical writers to differentiate Christianity from its religious competitors. By examining doctrinal controversies, ecclesiastical politics, and local practices, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the religious transformation of the empire. Methodologically, this research project adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating literary sources with archaeological and archaeometric data. This allows for a richer, more nuanced reconstruction of religious life in Late Antiquity. Special attention is given to the interplay between urban religious policy and rural religious persistence, acknowledging that both environments contributed to the evolving religious landscape. The original contribution of this study lies in its integrative analysis of how Christianity and Paganism influenced each other in both ideological and practical terms, across various provinces of the Roman Empire. By contextualizing doctrinal disputes and local religious continuities within broader imperial dynamics, this project seeks to offer new insights into the gradual transformation of religious identities and practices from the classical to the medieval world.