The Roman Byzantine Empire & the Axial Age

• Orthodox Christian Empire; other forms were marginalized
• Roman Christianity (4th Century)
• Greek categories of thought
• Competing Christianities

Syria & Iraq

• Nestorians
• Syriac semetic culture (dual nature of Christ)
• Sassanid Empire's philosophical tradition maintained
• Monophysites
• Monastic elements

Palestine

• Ebionites
• Jewish Christianity until 7th century Islam
• Jesus was a man and prophet but not divine
• Development of divine law: Halakha (3rd - 7th century)
• Samaritans: No God but one.

• Late antiquity between 800 - 200 BCE
• ideas of a transcendant Godhead emerging from a higher realm
• Ethical action in this world motivated by faith
• Organized worship e.g. churches