English Conferences of Ernest Renan: Rome and Christianity. Marcus Aurelius

A series of lectures examines how Roman institutions, public rituals, and episodes of persecution shaped the development of early Christianity, arguing that legends, martyrdoms, and the erection of sacred sites served to consolidate ecclesiastical authority. The speaker traces the processes by which the city became the center of Catholic practice and shows how foundational narratives were adapted to civic structures. A separate lecture on Marcus Aurelius uses his writings and imperial example to illuminate moral and philosophical currents that influenced religious life. Historical evidence and critical interpretation are combined throughout to explore origins, authority, and the interaction between religion and civic power.