Anatolia: The Rise of the Church v.2

This is the first comprehensive study of the history of Asia Minor in antiquity to be written for nearly fifty years and the first attempt to treat Anatolian history as a whole over the millennium from the time of Alexander the Great to tbe hey-day of the Byzantine Empire. This second volume examines the rise of Christianity: Anatolian religious beliefs and practices provides fertile ground where both Jewish and Christian communities set down early roots; by the mid third century AD much of Anatolia was Christian, and Christian beliefs and practices shaped Anatolian history in Late Antiquity as decisively as the conditions of imperial rule had done in the high Roman Empire. Two relationships dominated every aspect of Asia Minor's history: that of the people to the land, and that of men to the gods. An enormous quantity of information derived from written sources, archaeological remains, inscriptions and coins make it possible to explore these relationships at a level of detail which is hardly possible for anyother part of the ancient world. Both themes have a significance which reached far beyond the boundaries of Anatolia.
"[A] magesterial survey of the history and archaeology of Turkey during the classical period....[Mitchell] writes with assurance."--The Tablet

"This is an important book....There is far more in this densely written thoughtful, and extremely stimulating book than can be mentioned in a review."--Journal of Theological Studies

"The great strength of this work is Mitchell's familiarity with a vast corpus of evidence, as well as his ability to synthesize the various forms of evidence and to organize a wealth of detail....an extremely impressive and comprehensive account of Asia Minor in this era and will certainly be the standard work for this period in the history of Anatolia."--Biblical Archaeologist

"For those who have already, as Mitchell puts it, "fallen under Anatolia's powerful spell," the two volumes will be a scholarly treat. For those who know, in a vague sort of way, that Asia Minor was a vital region in Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Christian times--but could not quite tell you why--the books will be a revelation. For those of us who work elsewhere in the Roman East and who can now look to Anatolia for comparative evidence and inspiration, they will be a blessing."--Archaeology News