Journey of Christianity to India in Late Antiquity: Networks and the Movement of Culture

This book explores how Christianity traveled from the Roman Mediterranean to the Indian subcontinent by examining the social networks that connected the ancient and late antique Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, Central Asia, and Iran. It also analyzes how the narrative tradition regarding the apostle Judas Thomas, which originated in Upper Mesopotamia and accredited him with evangelizing India, traveled among the social networks of an interconnected late antique world, shaping Mediterranean Christian beliefs and impacting local Christian cultures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 314 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Christianity's remarkable journey from the Roman Mediterranean to the Indian subcontinent is explored in this book. By examining the social networks that connected the ancient and late antique Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, central Asia, and Iran, it contemplates the social relations that made such movement possible. It also analyzes how the narrative tradition regarding the apostle Judas Thomas, which originated in Upper Mesopotamia and accredited him with evangelizing India, traveled among the social networks of an interconnected late antique world.

In this way, the book probes how the Thomas narrative shaped Mediterranean Christian beliefs regarding co-religionists in central Asia and India, impacted local Christian cultures, took shape in a variety of languages, and experienced transformation as it traveled from the Mediterranean to India and back again.

The book begins by examining the social networks that connected the ancient and late antique Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, central Asia, and Iran. It explores the various routes and modes of transportation used by early Christian missionaries and traders, as well as the cultural and religious exchanges that took place along the way. It also examines the role of the Roman Empire in facilitating these exchanges and the impact of imperial power on the development of Christianity in the region.

The second chapter focuses on the narrative tradition regarding the apostle Judas Thomas, which originated in Upper Mesopotamia and accredited him with evangelizing India. It explores how this narrative traveled among the social networks of an interconnected late antique world and how it was shaped and transformed by different communities and languages. The chapter also examines the impact of the Thomas narrative on Mediterranean Christian beliefs regarding co-religionists in central Asia and India, as well as on local Christian cultures.

The third chapter examines the role of the Thomas narrative in shaping Mediterranean Christian beliefs regarding co-religionists in central Asia and India. It explores how the narrative influenced the development of Christian theology and doctrine, as well as how it impacted local Christian cultures. The chapter also examines the ways in which the narrative was translated and adapted into different languages and how it experienced transformation as it traveled from the Mediterranean to India and back again.

The fourth chapter explores the impact of the Thomas narrative on local Christian cultures. It examines how the narrative was received and interpreted by different communities and how it influenced the development of local Christian traditions and practices. The chapter also explores the ways in which the narrative was adapted and transformed to suit local cultural contexts and how it contributed to the formation of distinct Christian identities.

The fifth chapter examines the transformation of the Thomas narrative as it traveled from the Mediterranean to India and back again. It explores how the narrative was adapted and transformed to suit different cultural contexts and how it experienced changes and adaptations over time. The chapter also examines the ways in which the narrative was used to justify missionary efforts and to promote Christian identity and values in the region.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the social networks that connected the ancient and late antique Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, central Asia, and Iran, as well as the narrative tradition regarding the apostle Judas Thomas. It explores how these networks shaped Mediterranean Christian beliefs regarding co-religionists in central Asia and India, impacted local Christian cultures, took shape in a variety of languages, and experienced transformation as they traveled from the Mediterranean to India and back again. The book offers valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted relationship between Christianity and the wider world of late antiquity, and its significance for understanding the development of Christian theology and doctrine.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108409551