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Christianity spread across North Africa early, and it remained there as a powerful force much longer than anticipated. While this African form of Christianity largely shared the Latin language and Roman culture of the wider empire, it also represented a unique tradition that was shaped by its context. Ancient African Christianity attempts to tell the story of Christianity in Africa from its inception to its eventual disappearance. Well-known writers such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine are studied in light of their African identity, and this tradition is explored in all its various expressions.

This book is ideal for all students of African Christianity and also a key introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the history, religion, and philosophy of these early influential Christians whose impact has extended far beyond the African landscape.

Contents

Preface

Chapter One: Introduction

Preliminary Concerns

Question 1: What is meant by "Ancient African Christianity"?

Question 2: Why study ancient African Christianity?

Question 3: What makes African Christians unique?

Question 4: What is the purpose of this book? Introducing Ancient African Christians: An Overview

Pre-Christian Africa

The Beginnings of Christian Africa

Christian Africa in the Fourth Century

The Last Days of Ancient African Christianity History and Ancient African Christians



Chapter Two: Backgrounds to Early African Christianity

Romanization: From Culture to Ethnicity to Identity

African (Identity) Politics

African Languages

African Art

African Religions

African Appearance



Chapter Three: The Earliest Evidence of African Christianity

Tertullian on the Earliest African Christians

African Christian Origins

The Scillitan Martyrs

Perpetua, Felicity, and their Fellow Martyrs

African Christianity in the Late Second and Early Third Century

Legacies and Later Trajectories



Chapter Four: Tertullian

Tertullian's Life Tertullian the Legalist

Tertullian the Fideist

Tertullian the Priest

Tertullian the Montanist

Tertullian the Misogynist

Tertullian the Roman

Tertullian the African Works and Teachings

Tertullian the African

Legacy and Later Trajectories





Chapter Five: Cyprian and the Later Third Century

Minucius Felix

Cyprian Persecution

Controversies

His Works and Teachings

Cyprian the African That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint)

Commodian

Late Third Century Martyrdoms



Chapter Six: The Early Fourth Century in Africa

Christian Records from the Early Fourth Century

Arnobius of Sicca Arnobian Theology

What was African about Arnobius? Lactantius

Works and Teachings

What was African about Lactantius?

Chapter Seven: The Donatist Controversy

Identifying Donatists

The Beginning of the Schism

Appeals to Constantine

Escalation of Violence and Persecution

Donatist Diversity and Decline

The End of Donatism?

Reassessing Donatist Characteristics

What was African about the Donatists?

Conclusions and Caveats



Chapter Eight: Augustine the African

Augustine's Life and Legacy

Augustine's Works and Teachings

What was African about Augustine? Augustine's African Background

Accusations about Augustine's Identity

Self-Identifying as an African

Chapter Nine: The Vandal Era of African Christianity

The Vandal Invasion of Africa

Vandals, Catholics, and Donatists

Vandal Expansion of Power

The End of the Vandal Kingdom





Chapter Ten: The Late Byzantine Era in Africa

Justinian's Re-Conquest of Africa

The African Three Chapters Controversy

Gregory the Great

Maximus the Confessor

Conclusion about Byzantine Africa



Chapter Eleven: The Arab Conquests in Africa

Understanding the Sources and Background

History of the Conquest

Survival of Evidence and Evidence of Survival

Characteristics of Late African Christianity

Reasons for African Christianity's Disappearance Political Power Theory

Christian Exodus Theory

Decapitation Theory

House Divided Theory

Cultural Gap Theory

Theological Syncretism Theory

Political Pragmatism Theory Tentative Conclusions on African Christianity's End



Chapter Twelve: What was African about Ancient African Christianity?

Summary of Findings

Elements Found in the "African School"

Further Considerations

Potential Implications



Bibliography

Abbreviations

Ancient Sources Cited (and critical editions and translations, when used)

Secondary Sources