'Crowned with the Wreath of Immortality': Martyrdom, Death, and the Afterlife in North African Religious Discourse

Author

Matthew William Egbert, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Historical Studies

First Advisor

Benti, Getahun

Second Advisor

Brown, Ras Michael

Abstract

This dissertation explores North Africa’s role in the development of its own religious discourse, specifically with regard to martyrdom, death, the afterlife, and other eschatological themes. Historians of early Christianity and Islam often depict the region as peripheral, but it was actually a crossroads where pre-existing traditions met new ideas to develop unique, localized versions of these religions. More often than not, these emphasized a pursuit of martyrdom and veneration of saints. This longue-durée study covers a vast timeline, spanning the pre-Christian period to the late Fatimid Caliphate. Its central focus, however, is the Donatist schism that divided North Africa in the fourth and fifth centuries. While typically portrayed as a fanatical, death-mongering sect, Donatism was a multi-faceted movement whose identity shifted with the changing times. It maintained a distinctive African character throughout with an emphasis on the teachings of Tertullian and Cyprian. Rather than accept a static definition of martyrdom, these African voices actively participated in the discourse. Using interdisciplinary methodologies that combine history with archeology, anthropology, theology, and literary analysis, this dissertation traces both the religious and social contexts of North African martyrdom. The continuity of such themes across the region’s changing cultural and religious landscapes amplifies North African voices in a field where they have often encountered silence.