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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

After A.D. 284 the Roman Empire underwent a radical transformation, sparked by political, social, and economic crises that increasingly seemed beyond human control. At the same time, Christianity was made the official state religion, the church became a prominent feature at all levels of life, and a new cultural ideal emerged that blended Christian beliefs with Classical humanism. (MP, 169)

Tumult in the Third Century

After the murder of the last Severan emperor in A.D. 235, the Roman Empire entered a period of prolonged civil war 27 emperors succeed each other in 50 years Rome suffered from repeated Barbarian invasions, which stretched Roman forces on the borders to the utmost The economic and social costs of maintaining an ever larger militaryand the treachery of army commanders against the governmentalmost destroyed the empire

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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

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Reforms of Diocletian
Diocletian gained control of the entire empire Abandoning the constitutional fictions of Augustus and previous emperors, Diocletian initiated of absolutism dominus et deus Addressed problems in military, inflation, declining tax base
Tetrarchy: empire divided into four with an emperor in each section (ultimately failed) Reorganized empire into prefectures and dioceses Wage and price controls Tied people to occupations and to land (foreshadows Medieval feudalism and manorialism)

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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

Roman Empire under Diocletian

Empire divided into 4 parts Each part divided into prefectures and then into dozens of small provinces called dioceses

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Rise of Constantine
Constantine began as Caesar, or junior emperor in Britain Defeated the other emperor in the West at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in A.D. 312 After temporarily allying himself with the senior emperor in the East, Constantine fought and won another civil war, reunited the empire, and moved the capital to Constantinople (A.D. 324) Constantines new capital shifts the empires focus to the more prosperous and secure East, away from the West that was particularly exposed to the growing German threat

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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

The Triumph of Christianity

Did Christianity Truly Triumph?
Christianity over paganism, empire over church, philosophy infiltrates religion?

Diocletians Great Persecution (A.D. 303)

See Eusebius (MPR, 173-174) After bitterly persecuting the Church, one of Diocletians successors in the tetrarchy, Galerius, reversed himself and issued the first edict of toleration (A.D. 311)

Constantine and Christianity

Battle of the Milvian Bridge (A.D. 312): Under this sign, conquer! Edict of Milan (favorable toleration, A.D. 313) Empress Helena is a Christian
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Christianity: the Official Religion

Once external opposition was removed, internal divisions raged Heresies and Orthodoxy
ArianismChrist Created Athanasiusthe Father and the Son are coequal Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325)

Constantine tried to end Christian infighting

After assembling a congress of bishops, Constantine encouraged them to define what was orthodoxy The Nicaean Creed rejected Arianism and used philosophical language to describe the Trinity

Theodosius banned pagan cult (A.D. 391); Christianity the official state religion

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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

Constantine in council with Christian bishops, fresco

from Galata, Cyprus, 1513

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Rise of Asceticism
Ascetic, one who exercises, works, trains
Intense control of behavior and attitudes

A withdrawal from the world Focus on an intensely spiritual life Movement begins in Egypt
Hermits Communities

Antecedent of later monasticism

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30. Constantine and the Triumph of Christianity

Church Fathers, Theologians, Writers

Apostles > Apostolic Fathers > Greek and Latin Fathers
Polycarp (John), St. Clement (Peter), etc. Eusebius (A.D. c. 260340), bishop of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History Ambrose (A.D. 34097), bishop of Milan: treatises on Church government, hymns Jerome (A.D. 340420), translated the Latin Vulgate Bible Augustine (A.D. 354430), bishop of Hippo

Synthesis with Neoplatonism

Educated Christians try to explain the gospel in philosophical terms Post-apostolic Christianity and the creeds

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The Roman basilica (here the Basilica Ulpia of Trajan)

The Christian Basilica

note nave, aisles, transept, and apse

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Christian Basilica, cross section

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Old St. Peters in Rome

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Church of St. Constanza, Rome, fourth century: a centrally planned church

St. Maria Maggiore, Rome, 432-440

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Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, early fifth century

Christ the Good Shepherd, mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

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Sarcophagus carvings

Above: Carved frieze (relief) from Christ-Peter Sarcophagus, A.D. 320330. Left: Chi-Rho emblem, from the first letters of Christ in Greek.

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