Orthodoxy and the Courts in Late Antiquity

by Caroline Humfress

Overview

This book approaches the subject of late Roman law from the perspective of legal practice revealed in courtroom processes, as well as more 'informal' types of dispute settlement. From at least the early fourth century, leading bishops, ecclesiastics, and Christian polemicists participated in a vibrant culture of forensic argument, with far-reaching effects on theological debate, the development of ecclesiastical authority, and the elaboration of early 'Canon law'. One of the most innovative aspects of late Roman law was the creation and application of new legal categories used in the prosecution of 'heretics'. Leading Christian polemicists not only used techniques of argument learnt in the late Roman rhetorical schools to help position the Church within the structure of Empire, they also used those techniques in cases involving accusations against 'heretics'- thus defining and developing the concept of Christian orthodoxy itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191518768
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	11/01/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	823 KB

Table of Contents

Abbreviations     xi
Introduction     1
Forensic Practitioners and the Development of Late Roman Law
Introduction and Background     9
Litigation and Late Roman Judges     29
Legal Experts and the Late Roman Courts     62
Late Roman Advocates     93
Forensic Practitioners in the Service of the Late Antique Church
Introduction and Background     135
Ecclesiastics as Forensic Practitioners     153
Forensic Expertise and the Development of Early 'Canon Law'     196
Orthodology, Heresy, and the Courts
Defining Heresy and Orthodoxy     217
Heresy and the Courts     243
Conclusion     269
Advocates in the Eastern Empire     273
Advocates in the Western Empire     285
Bibliography     292
Index     321

Editorial Reviews

"If the argumentative focus of the book is acute, the breadth of its learning is vast. Humfress is equally masterful in handling scholarly debates from a century ago as she is bold in pushing recent advances further, especially with respect to rhetoric and legal studies."—Catholic Historical Review

From the Publisher