The relations between Christians and Jews in the Eastern Roman Empire (4th-7th Cent.)
The relations between Christians and Jews in the Eastern Roman Empire (4th-7th Cent.)

Summary/Abstract: The current article expounds upon the relations between Christians and Jews in the first centuries A.D. There was living together, competition and conflict in the geographical area of the Greek East (4-6th centuries A.D.). After Christianity became a state religion in 395 A.D., the Eastern Roman Emperors took many actions to protect the new religion. Judaism and Paganism were imposed limitations via legislation and political measures. The tensions between Christian and Jews were settled by emperors, but with many difficulties. Some imperial letters sent to the Praetorian Prefect of the Eastern province are key to understanding the Emperors’ politics towards Jews and Pagans in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. Imperial legislation concerning the relations between Jews and Christians is made up of letters addressed to Governors and Prefects of the Roman provinces. The attitude of the Roman emperors was to restrict Christian hostility towards citizens who had another faith and try to achieve a balance in interfaith relations.

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