Charles Odahl
Ancient and Medieval History Advisor for Classical Languages
Dr. Odahl holds BA and MA degrees in European History and Classical Languages from California State University, Fresno, and a Ph.D degree in Greek, Roman, and Medieval History from the University of California, San Diego (1976). At Boise State, he teaches history courses in Western Civilization, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Augustus and Classical Rome, Early Christianity, Constantine and the Byzantine Empire, and Medieval Europe; and Latin courses in Elementary Classical Latin Language & Literature, Advanced Classical Latin Language & Literature, Augustan Age Latin, Early Church Latin, Constantinian & Patristic Latin, & Mediecal Latin.
Professor Odahl's research specialties are Cicero and the Late Republic, the Early Church, and Constantine and Late Antiquity. He has traveled, lived and taught extensively in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin studying the extant texts, coins, statuary, architecture and historical sites of the ancient, medieval and Byzantine eras; and has amassed a large personal collection of ancient artifacts and some 8000 slides and prints of relevant material he uses to great advantage in classroom lectures, and professional and public presentations. His recent publications include articles on "A Pagan's Reaction to Constantine's Conversion-Religious References in the Trier Panegyric of A.D. 313" in The Ancient World (1990), "Constantine's Epistle to the Bishops at the Council of Arles" in The Journal of Religious History (1993), "The Christian Basilicas of Constantinian Rome" in The Ancient World (1995), "God and Constantine: Divine Sanction for Imperial Rule in the First Christian Emperor's Early Letters and Art" in The Catholic Historical Review (1995), articles on "Eusebius of Caesarea," "The Edict of Milan," "The Battle of the Milvian Bridge," and "Saint Sylvester I" in the Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (2002); recent books include Early Christian Latin Literature (Chicago: Ares, 1993), and his magnum opus on Constantine and the Christian Empire (London & New York: Routledge "Roman Imperial Biographies" series, 2004 Hb, 2006 expanded Pb). Forthcoming publications include articles on "Christian Minters at Constantinian Arles," and "Constantine the Great and Christian Imperial Theocracy"; and a book on Helena and the Holy Land.
| Office | L-178 |
| Phone | 208/426-3220 |
| codahl@boisestate.edu | |
| Office Hours & Courses taught (PDF) | |