Western Civilization I / Unit 8 WC1 0713 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Holidays Absorbed, Polytheism Rejected, Theodosius, 380
Captions available
The idea
December twenty-fifth, Sol Invictus's day, became Christmas; Easter took spring festivals; saints' days replaced local feasts. But polytheism was not tolerated: pagan, from country bumpkin, was the Christians' contempt, and in three eighty Theodosius declared the Empire Christian.
In practice
Temples repurposed, funding shifted, mob attacks tolerated.
Where people slip
Practices survived: charms, spirits, salt over the shoulder. Belief systems ended; habits did not.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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