Alexander to Constantine

This comprehensive and richly illustrated book explores the archaeological record of the land of the Bible from its conquest by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B. C. E. until the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine in the fourth century C. E. Unique in its focus on the region's archaeology during the crucial Greco-Roman era, the book offers an excellent overview of a tumultuous period in world history. It also presents new insights into the evolution of Judaism and Christianity, drawing on the most recently uncovered archaeological evidence and ancient literary sources. Eric M. Meyers and Mark A. Chancey describe Hellenism as the main vehicle for the transformation of early Judaism and early Christianity in material culture and sacred traditions. The authors provide detailed discussions of the emergence of the two as sister religions, undistinguishable in many ways for centuries, then discuss how Judaism and Christianity developed in separate ways, especially after the rise of imperial Christianity with Emperor Constantine. A treasury of information coupled with brilliant insights, this book has much to offer scholar, student, and general reader alike.