During what historical period did St. Jerome undertake his translations?

St. Jerome's translations took place during the late Roman Empire, specifically around the late 4th and early 5th centuries. This period was marked by significant changes in the Roman world, including the rise of Christianity as a major religious force. Jerome was motivated by a desire to make the Scriptures more accessible to the Latin-speaking Christian community, leading him to translate the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. This translation effort led to the Vulgate, which became the standard Latin version of the Bible for many centuries.

The late Roman Empire was characterized by its declining political power, cultural shifts towards Christianity, and a flourishing of theological scholarship. Jerome's work was crucial in this context, as it directly addressed the needs of the church and facilitated a better understanding of biblical texts.

Other historical periods listed in the choices do not align with the timing of Jerome's work. The early Middle Ages came after Jerome’s translations, significantly later, when the Latin text he produced was already well established. The Renaissance, beginning in the 14th century, occurred long after Jerome's lifetime and was marked by a revival of classical learning and arts, while the Enlightenment, in the 17th and 18th centuries, focused more on reason and scientific inquiry