H8110 Early Church History

Unit code H8110

Unit name Early Church History

Unit weighting 9 cp

Prerequisites N/A

Exclusions H7110 History of the Early Church

Curriculum objective The early centuries (i.e. to the 4^th or 5^th centuries) of the Christian church’s history were a formative period where doctrine was consolidated and institutional structures were established. As such, this period is fundamentally important to an understanding of the subsequent history of the church. This introductory unit provides an approach to the study of church history, with particular reference to the Early Church period. In doing so, it sets the context for doctrinal and institutional development, with an analysis of the various conflicts, challenges and relationships that occurred and which set the foundation for the ongoing development of the church.

Learning outcomes At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Assess the impact of cultural, political and religious factors in the development of the early church
2. Account for the development of ecclesiastical forms and practices in the Early Church
3. Analyse the causes and outcomes of the major doctrinal challenges and controversies that arose in the Early Church period
4. Evaluate the contribution of selected people and movements to the development of the church’s thought and structures
5. Interpret primary and secondary historical documents in their social/political context in the development of a coherent historical argument in written form

Content

1. Approaches to Historical Inquiry
2. The First 300 Years
   • Early spread of the church: cultural, political, religious influences
   • Church and Society: persecution and martyrdom
   • Doctrinal Development: apologists, theologians
   • Ecclesiastical Development: bishops, papacy
3. Nicea and Beyond
   • Emergence of Ecumenical Councils
   • Constantine and the Church:  emergence of a “state church”
   • After Nicea What?

Assessment profile In this unit, the required assessment tasks will enable students to demonstrate how successfully they can:

1. Written analysis of a primary document (in English or English translation), using an appropriate method of historical inquiry (Outcomes 1, 4)
2. Analysis of the contribution to the history of the Early Church of one significant person or event (Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4)
3. Written research that interprets a major challenge, controversy or development in the history of the Early Church, based on primary and secondary reading (Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5)