Nice map, jmberry!
If Gaul managed to get the borders at the Rhein, they would be safer from the Germanic tribes.
The Visigothii risk being conquered by the Ostrogoths (who are in a strategic area - if they remain there helennised, they can have a good future) or the Restored Roman Empire.
Indeed, but the Huns are showing up on the scene now, so just about anything might happen
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The next map won't be until 400, but I've decided a look at how Christianity is different is in order. Each of these entries includes a bible quote that represents the core of that faith.
Interlude #2: Christianity
Syrian Orthodox
"Glory to God in the Highest, and in the World peace among men with whom he is pleased!" - The Gospel according to Lucas 2:14
The Syrian Orthodox Church is the largest of the Christian denominations, and the one most people think of when they think of Christianity. Based in Jerusalem, the Syrian Orthodox Church is led by Patriarchs who claim apostlic succesion, with the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome holding the most weight. As Palmyra controls three of these cities, it has immense influence over church doctrine. In addition to Palmyra, the Syrian Church is the established religion in the Restored Roman Empire, San Sebastiano, Armenia, Rafidayn, and the Ghassanids. The Axumites also follow Syrian doctrine, but ... certain differences are starting to appear. The church frowns upon ostentatious displays of wealth amongst the clergy, and preach about the usefulness of good deeds and charity, memories of the work of Donatus, Patriarch (Pope) of Rome in the early 300s. The New Testament Canon, according to the Council of Caesaria, follows:
The Gospel according to Matthew
The Gospel according to Mark
The Gospel according to Lucas
The Gospel according to Ioannes
The Gospel of the Egyptians
The Gospel of the Hebrews
Acts of the Apostles
Romans
I and II Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
Ephesians
Colossians
I and II Thessalonians
I and II Timotheus
Titus
Hebrews
Simon Petrus [I Peter]
Ioannes the Evangelist [I John]
Jude
Clement
Traditions of Mathias
Preachings of Simon Petrus
Epistle of Barnabas
Didache
Shepard of Hermas
They also have a secondary book called the "Apoalypton", which includes two writings, the Revelations of Ioannes the Evangelist, and the Apocalypse of Simon Petrus. These are deemed to be important, but not necessary, as they are believed to have been predictions of the fall and breakup of the Roman Empire, and thus have already transpired.
Celtic Christianity
"I am the LORD thy God, thou shall have no other God before me." - Exodus 20:2
Celtic Christianity grew in the Roman Empire of Gaul, where oppresion by the Invictines caused them to develop a harder outlook on life. Celtic Christianity is greatest in Britannia, but has enclaves in Cantabria, North Gaul, and Hibernia (The Christians on the Mediterranean coast follow the Syrian dogma). The Celts are less organized than the Syrians, relying on local bishops, who nominally report to the Church Vicarius in Venta Silurum. The Celtic Church includes I and II Macabees in its version of the Old Testament, with the bishops painting the Church as the Macabees reborn, with the Gallo-Romans replacing the Seleucids. The New Testament canon is:
The Gospel according to Matthew
The Gospel according to Mark
The Gospel according to Luke
The Gospel according to Ioan
Acts of the Apostles
Romans
I and II Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
Ephesians
Colossians
I and II Thessalonians
I and II Timothy
Titus
Peter [I Peter]
I and II Ioan
Clement
Shepard of Hermas
Revelations of Ioan
The Marcionites
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. - Apostilicon 1:8-10
Marcion was a church leader living in the 2nd century. He felt that the Old and New Testaments were contradictory towards each other, and believed that the OT should be rejected. He, in fact, worked hard to stamp out any Jewish influences in Christianity, and was condemned as one of the Church's first major heretics. In 368, the Visigoths follow his beliefs, which has brought them into conflict with both the Ostrogoths, who are Manichean, and the Romans, who are Syrian Orthodox. The Marcionitic Bible (there is no Old Testament in this version) contains only two books:
The Evangelicon (a heavily modified and "de-Jewed" Luke)
The Apostilicon (a compilation of Epistles, starting with Galatians and continuing with I and II Corinthians, Romans, I and II Thessalonicans, Laodiceans [Ephesians], Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, all, like Luke, heavily modified)
The Arians
Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Iesu Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. - I Corinthians 8:5-6
Unlike OTL, Arianism is considered something of a curiosity TTL, and lacks the controversy it held OTL in Europe, as Marcionsim holds the title of most controversial heresy. In Persia, however, Arianists are killed wherever found, being associated with the Afrigids. Thus, Arianism has become the main faith in the region of Transoxiana, including the Afrigid kingdom of Choresmia. The Arianists have the same canon as the Syrians, except for the Gospels of the Egyptians and Hebrews, which are not included, and the Revelations of Ioannes, which is considered canon.
The Thomasines, aka the Gnostics
He [Yisu Masiha] said "The realm of the [Father] is like a woman who is carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking [on the road], still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled out behind her. She did not realize, she noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty." - Thomasa 97
The Thomasines are the largest group of Gnostic Christians, and are found primarily in Tocharistan. They believe in traditional Gnostic beliefs, like the supremacy of Spirit over Matter, but modified to a Christian world view. They have no set holy book, but instead a collection of writings called the Gnostic Gospel of Thomasa, which take the form of a collection of sayings by Jesus Christ/Yisu Masiha (who is not mentioned by name) to Thomas the Apostle. They are not to be confused with the Nasrene Christians of Kerala, who are also called the Saint Thomas Christians because they beleive their church was founded by Thomas. At this point in time, the Nasrenes are little different from the Syrians.
The next interlude will deal with the Invictines and will come at 400.