ABSTRACT
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth centuries were a profoundly religious age. The lower classes had probably always been religious; now all classes were so without exception-rationalists and free thinkers were practically unknown, and Epicureanism, the materialist school of philosophy, had virtually died out. Everyone believed that there were supernatural powers, who would be angered by neglect of their worship, by moral offences and, in the case of Christians, by wrong beliefs about their nature, and who on the other hand could be placated by certain rites and would be pleased by good moral behaviour.
