Agnus: The Late Antique, Medieval, and Byzantine Podcast Dr. Robin Whelan on Christianity in Vandal Africa
Jan 26, 2018
Dr. Robin Whelan, a historian specializing in late antique North African Christianity, shares fascinating insights about Christianity in Vandal Africa. He discusses the Vandals' capture of Carthage and their intricate relationship with the region's religious landscape. Whelan highlights the existence of multiple Christianities, revealing how local beliefs varied before imperial oversight. He explains the significance of theological debates, such as the Arian controversy, and how these shaped Vandal politics and identity in a turbulent era.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
What 'Late Antique Africa' Means
- Late antique 'Africa' means the Roman diocese on the Mediterranean coast, not the whole continent.
- Vandal Africa was a wealthy, Romanized region with strong continuities after 439 CE.
Who The Vandals Were
- The Vandals were a fifth-century barbarian group who conquered Roman territories and seized Carthage in 439 CE.
- Their kingdom ruled Tunisia and Algeria until the Byzantine reconquest in 533 CE.
Rethinking Vandal Africa's Reputation
- Older scholarship painted Vandal Africa as a failed, destructive state shaped by persecution.
- Recent work shows it was economically thriving with cultural and political continuity from Rome.
