In the Crucible of Empire: The Impact of Roman Citizenship upon Greeks, Jews and Christians

This volume examines the dynamic concept and changing reality of Roman

citizenship from the perspective of the provinces in Rome’s vast,

multi-ethnic empire, both before and after Caracalla’s grant of

universal citizenship in 212 CE. In Greek communities, and in Jewish and

Christian conceptual and actual constructed communities, the Roman

definition of citizenship had a profound impact on the shape of abstract

ideas of community, discourse about communal membership and peoplehood,

and legal and civic models. Just as Roman citizenship was forever

redefining its restrictions and becoming ever-more inclusive, so the

borders of the other communities to which Greeks, Christians and Jews

claimed citizenship were also flexible, adaptable, dynamic.