Transcript Moving toward Christianity

Moving toward Christianity
What we inherited from the Greeks
• Good at Math, arts and sculpture
• Great dramatists
• Great thinkers including Socrates, Plato
and Aristotle
• Athens the birthplace of democracy
Alexander the Great and the
Hellenized World
• The spreading of Greek cultures is called “Hellenic”—
referring to Helen of Troy
• Combined with other cultures—it was a dynamic force in
ancient civilization
• Greek culture influenced Egypt, Persia, the Middle East
• Learning was spread like butter on a piece of toast—all
with echoes of Greece
• Though Alexander died young, he remains “the Great”
because he brought his culture to so many.
Library at Alexandria
• May have been destroyed by Julius
Caesar
• One of the great mysteries
• Regardless, many great masterpieces lost;
we only know them by name
The Romans
• Conquered Greece
• Spoke Latin (we use the Latin alphabet
today)
• Good at governing/empire building
• Great at Civic organization: roads,
aqueducts, stadiums.
• Rome favored LAW over individuality
Christianity
• Cannot be overemphasized enough
• Could be the most important event in
human history
• The New Testament philosophy remains
unique among world religions
• No other world religion has produced the
“highs” and “lows” that Christianity has
Blessed are the Peacemakers
–For they shall
inherit the
earth
–Persecuted for
Righteousness
sake
–Are to forgive
seventy times
seventy
Christianity’s appeal
• Brought Hope
Appealed to women and slaves
Explored the soul—spiritual beauty
over physical beauty
Christians worked to relieve
suffering of others
• They protested against slaves, gladiators
• Believed in sacrifice and compassion
Humility over Pride
Overcame human sacrifice,
violence, magic, fortune telling
One God over many
We are a Judeo-Christian Society
• Christianity and Judaism share the old
testament
• The Jews were persecuted for hundreds of
years
• Many evil deeds have been committed in
the name of Christianity
Pressures on the Roman Empire
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Overextended empire
Weak Emperors
Moral Decay
Lines blur between Rome
and the barbarians
• Pressure from Celts
(Wales), Scotts
(England), Germanic
Tribes
• What a mess!
Atilla the Hun sacks Rome in 450
• Remains a legend—dies after a night of
hard drinking
Tried to keep out Barbarians—little
success
St Augustine 420 a.d.
• Heavenly City
• City of God and
Heaven
• Represented Perfect
Government
• Reality: a struggle
between popes and
kings
• Earthly City
• City of Man, state and
empire
• An imperfect
government; could be
criticized
• Reality: fighting, wars,
greed
RESULTS OF AUGUSTINE
• NO CAESAROPAPISM—the beginning of
separation of church and state.
Byzantine Empire
The King/Pope moves to Constantinople in
330 to escape Barbarian invasions
Rule as Christians but with Greek traditions
Christian world finally divided in 1054—
Roman Catholic vs. Orthodox
The Arabic World
• Emerges in 700 as powerful unifier of
desert tribes
• Honors Old Testament and Jesus
• Considers Jerusalem a sacred city
• Expanded into Spain—stays there until
1492
• Almost conquered Europe in 732
Battle of Tours, A.D. 732
• Saves Europe for Christianity and stops
the Muslim invasions. One of the most
important battles in World History
Charles Martel was the
Grandfather of Charlemagne
Last, and the Least—Latin
Christendom
• Government is splintering
• Chaos and anarchy
• Rome now de-centralizes—back to
tribes
• Tribes self govern with “Trial by
combat”
• No money, reverts to barter system
• Neglect of roads
The Dark Ages Descend into
Europe
• Lawlessness takes over the vacuum left
by Roman order
• Attacks make it difficult to plant and
harvest crops
• Similar to “Gang” warfare
• But—many within the tribe are “free” and
they cobble together some form of tribal
government
Many Legend arise from this time,
including King Arthur
Western Europe needs help
• Even Conan can’t help!
Neither can President Bush
The Christian Church to the rescue
• Missionaries sent to convert heathens
• Letters are written for support
• Monasteries in isolated places copy bibles
and other ancient books
• The Church looks to the Bishop of Rome;
• The East falls under the influence of the
Emperor
• The West remains independent from the
state
Charlemagne
• Grandson of Charles Martel, who defeated
the Muslims at Tours in 732.
• Crowned in Rome on Christmas Day, A.D.
800
• Learning revives before another wave of
Barbarian Invasions.
Charlemagne gains territory from
Muslims in Spain
Revives trade and commerce
Restores order in Italy—kicks out
pockets of Muslims
Promotes Education and Literacy
Charlemagne’s successes do not
last
• Divides his kingdom
• Eventually weakens under second wave of
invasions
Second Wave of Barbarian
Invasions
Attacks on Monasteries
During the Dark Ages and
Feudal times
Men gave up freedom
for safety
The Feudal System
• An intricate system of local government
because there is no national government
• A pyramid of interdependence that is
complex
• It depends on everyone knowing their
place
• Very rigid—but appropriate for the time
Counts or Lords
• Vassals are lesser
Lords
• The will fight for the
Lord
• The Lord kept peace
and order
• Kings were elected,
then became
heriditary
• England developed
more centralized
feudalism
• Central government
became more
powerful
• More peace and
security in England
Peasants
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Skilled peasants
Bakers
Blacksmith
Glass makers
Carpenters
Metal workers
Craftsmen
• Laboring peasants
• Lived near manors
• Weren’t required to
fight except selfdefense
• Worked hard, but had
many festival days
• Very poor