Eva Baumkamp, M. A.

Department of Ancient History/Institute of Epigraphy

Curriculum vitae:

PhD project

Christian communication networks from the second to fourth century A.D.

Regarding the development of Christianity in the first three centuries the supraregional spread of Christian communities and the recurrent persecution within a society – affected by religious plurality – is striking. Christian communities were located in many parts of the Roman Empire, but regardless of the extensive distances they communicated and exchanged information vividly with each other. Thus, they joined social relationships, because they regarded themselves as part of a Christian community and consequently formed or should form a unit according to the Christian understanding. According to the spread of Christianity the expansion of communication networks can be observed. In the ancient world letters and journeys were used by Christians as means of cultivating contacts and exchanging information since the Pauline mission. Especially during inner Christian conflicts the exchange of letters was an essential, but restricted part of the setting of the conflict. The importance of letters was strengthened during local and supraregional persecutions, when bishops, who can be regarded as means of communication networks, were forced to get into touch with their communities from exile. Therefore, Christian persecution had a direct impact on the improvement and continuation of communication between the bishop and his community or other bishops. During the second and third century bishops tried to concentrate the spread of information on themselves in order to assure their own position within their communities. An interruption of relationships to other bishops implied a factual excommunication. Therefore, Christian bishops developed an infrastructure by organizing and controlling the exchange of information with the help of clergymen as couriers. Furthermore, they conducted synods and published the synodal decisions afterwards. Besides the Roman State with its administration and military Christians are the only community within the whole Empire who organized an own and extraordinarily effective “postal” system. The graduation project at hand deals with the genesis of these Christian networks within the Roman Empire on a historical basis in order to analyse the balance of power between Christian communities. The analysis concentrates on the persecution during the second and third century, but the beginnings of the privilege of Christianity are included as well, because continuities and disruptions, rivalry and attempts of hierarchy of existing communication networks are outlined. In order to comprise the supraregional unit of Christianity, the analysed letters come from the following regions and cities due to the current state of source material: Africa/Carthage (Cyprian from Carthage), Egypt/Alexandria (Dionysius and Athanasius from Alexandria), Italy/Rome (Easter controversy; correspondents of Cyprian; correspondents of Dionysius) and Asia minor (Easter controversy; baptismal conflict of heretics).

Research interests:

• Christianity
• Late Antiquity
• Roman Social History

Function within the Cluster/Membership in Projects and Groups:

• Member of working group Conflicts in the Area of Religion and Politics
• Associate member of working group Mixing Religions - Religious Multiple Identities

Courses:

• Summer term 2009: 081335 Übung: Christentum im Prinzipat
• Winter term 2009/2010: 081377 Lektüreübung: Plinius-Briefe (A1)
• Summer term 2010: 081198 Proseminar: Augustus
• Winter term 2010/11: 081244 Proseminar: Einführung in das Studium der Alten Geschichte: Konstantin
• Summer term 2011: 081223 Einführung in das Studium der Alten Geschichte: Von der Republik bis zum Prinzipat

Conference contributions:

• 27. April 2009 im Rahmen des Kolloquiums der wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter des GKM (Centrum für Geschichte und Kultur des östlichen Mittelmeerraums), Münster: "Alle übrigen Hirten der Kirche eilten von allen Seiten nach Antiochia..." - kommunikative Beziehungen von Bischöfen bei der Verurteilung von Paulus von Samosata
• 6. Juni 2009 im Rahmen der PhD-Tagung von OIKOS (National Research School in Classical Studies in the Netherlands), Leiden/Niederlande: Christian communication networks from the second to the fourth century - Cyprian of Carthage and the recognition of Cornelius of Rome
• 03. Dezember 2010: Krise als Chance – Überlegungen zur Konstituierung eines christlichen Mittelmeerraumes; Erster Bochumer Nachwuchsworkshop für MediterranistInnen, 3.-4.12.2010, Zentrum für Mittelmeerstudien, Bochum
• 10. Dezember 2010: Wie handelt man richtig? Autoritätskonflikte zwischen Cyprian von Karthago und den Bekennern; Politische Märtyrer. Sinnzuschreibungen in Vormodern und Moderne, 10.-11.12. 2010, Münster
• 06. Januar 2011: Cyprian of Carthage and the Solution of Inner Christian Conflicts; Religions and Politics in Antiquity, 6.-7.01.2011, Münster

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