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About Charles M. Odahl

Dr. Charles Matson Odahl received BA and MA degrees in European History and Classical Languages from California State University, Fresno; and a doctorate in Greek, Roman and Medieval History from the University of California, San Diego. He served as Professor of Ancient and Medieval History, and Classical and Patristic Latin at Boise State University in Idaho for over thirty years; and also taught Roman and Medieval History at the University of Avignon in France, at Bath College of Higher Education in Britain, and at Oregon State University in Oregon. His main research interests are Cicero and the late Roman Republic, early Christianity, and Constantine and the early Byzantine Empire. He has traveled, lived, studied and taught throughout Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, and examined the extant texts, coins, artifacts, and monuments relevant to the Roman, early Christian and Byzantine eras in the major museum collections and archaeological sites around the world. His publications include nearly 50 articles and reviews in scholarly journals, and major books on Cicero and the Catilinarian Conspiracy (New York: Routledge, 2010 Hb & 2011 Pb), Early Christian Latin Literature (Chicago: Ares, 1993 Pb), and Constantine and the Christian Empire (London: Routledge, 1st ed. 2004 Hb & 2006 Pb, 2nd ed. 2010 Hb & 2013 Pb--also available in Romanian, Serbian and Polish translations).

Dr. Odahl has given hundreds of papers and presentations across the country to professional associations, such as the American Historical Association, the American Catholic Historical Association, the American Society of Church History, the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, the Classical Association of the Pacific Northwest, and the Northwest Early Christian Studies Seminar; and to local groups, such as the Idaho Historical Museum, the Lutheran Pastors' Association of the Northwest, the Medieval Society of Idaho, and numerous churches and fraternal groups. He has appeared on British and American television in historical programs, and been the subject of dozens of newspaper and magazine articles relevant to his specialties of Roman, early Christian, and Byzantine history, religion, and art. He resides in the Pacific Northwest, writes part time at his home on Roman & early Christian history, lectures part time across the country on his books & research specialties, and enjoys classic film noir mysteries and British romance period movies, biking & swimming as much as possible.

The author's best selling books, favorite published articles and book reviews, and some recent popular talks are listed below and cover the periods of the Late Roman Republic to the Early Byzantine Empire (133 B.C. to A.D. 565).

Positions

Present Professor Emeritus, Boise State University Department of History
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Curriculum Vitae


Disciplines



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Honors and Awards

  • "Most Influential Teacher," and "Excellence in Academics" Awards - Boise State (1979-2007)
  • Local and Regional Media Profiles for Research on Ancient and Early Christian History (1979-2010)
  • Who’s Who in the West (1980, 1998, 2000)

Courses

  • Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome
  • Seminar on Cicero and the Late Republic
  • Early Christianity, Medieval Europe
  • Seminar on Constantine and Early Byzantium
  • Six courses in Latin Language and Literature


Contact Information

E-mail: codahl@boisestate.edu
Phone: 208-922-7894
Address: Dr. Charles Matson Odahl
209 East Mallard Drive, #318
Boise, Idaho 83706


Published Books (5)

Published Papers (25)