The adoption of Christianity across the Roman Empire was a gradual, organic process. There was persecution and conflict, but also long periods where it peacefully coexisted with other beliefs, in a giant melting pot of religious traditions.

Theme: The arrival of Christianity

• Mark Humphries, 'Two stories, two perspectives - Making the world Christian'.
• James Blake Wiener, 'Early Christian converts: a new view - Moderates not zealots'.
• Harold A. Drake, 'Constantine and the tide of history - Christians, pagans, and policy'.
• Maijastina Kahlos, 'How Christians created the "other" - Inventing pagans'.
• Daniel Kershaw, 'Pagan origins, Christian continuity - Celebrating Saturnalia'.
• Svenja Fabian, 'Christians in (and at) the arena - Martyrs and spectators'.
• Andrei Pogacias, 'Early Christianity in Scythia Minor - Here is the blood of martyrs'.

Features:

• Manon Henzen, 'The wide world of Roman wine - Lovers of the grape'.
• Carole Raddato, 'An archaeological tour of Lebanon - Day trips back in time'.
• Graham Sumner, 'The Roman army on screen, part XVI - Ben-Hur (2016)'.