ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores that the chronological span marks at each end by a period of significant political and religious development. It opens the period with which is that of establishment of Jerusalem as religious and temporal capital of the Israelite nation. In addition to remains directly related to music, archaeology has also brought to light remains of ancient buildings, ordinary houses as well as palaces, temples and churches, in several places in the Near East and the eastern Mediterranean lands. These permit an appreciation of the physical setting of the music of ancient Judaism and early Christianity. Constantine's policy of religious emancipation was particularly favourable to Christianity. The edict of Milan, in addition to giving religious freedom generally, stipulated that all people who had bought or appropriated places of worship from Christians were to return them to Christians without requiring payment.
