Transcript Age of the Christian Roman Empire I

Age of the Christian Roman Empire I
OK,
Maybe Not
How Keanu Reeves changed the
church forever
Age of the Christian Roman
Empire I
Constantine
The Best and Worst thing ever to
Happen to Christianity
AKA
Caius Flavius Valerius
Aurelius Claudius
Constantius Magnus
End of Galerius
• Ewwwww
• Edict of Toleration 311
• Empire split between Maxentius,
Maximian and Constantine
Constantine’s Early Life
• Son of Co-Emperor Constantius
Chlorus and Helena
• Served under Diocletian during the
Egyptian and Persian Wars
• Returned to father in Gaul to
become Emperor
Constantine’s Conquest
• Maximian Herculius father of
Maxentius
• Galerius Dies
• Maxentius now “Co” Emperor
with Constantine
• Battle of Milvian Bridge
Tuto Nike Hoc Vince
Constantine’s Vision
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Actual Appearance
Pious Fraud
Illusion
There are no miracles, just pretty
clouds
• Dream
Constantine Wins
Yay!
Effects of Constantine Winning
• Edict of Toleration with Co-Regent Licinius
• Christian clergy exempt from
military/municipal duty
• Abolished offensive pagan customs
• Emancipation of Christian slaves
• Legalized bequests to catholic churches
• Sunday -> dies Solis (day of the Sun)
• Contributed to the building of Churches
Bad Constantine
• Warred against his brother in law
Licinius defeating him in 324
• Violates promise of mercy and
executes Licinius and 11 year old son
Licinius
• Executes Crispus his eldest son for
treason as well as commiting incest
with Fausta (Constantine’s Wife)
Move to Byzantium 330AD
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Byzantium is renamed Constantinople
Many Churches built
Idols eliminated (modified)
60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine
End of Constantine
• Deathbed baptism, performed by the
semi-Arian bishop Eusebius of
Nicomedia
• Baptized declaring “Now let us cast
away all duplicity”
• Wore only baptism robes until death
a few days later, on Pentecost, May,
22, 337
Saint Helena
• Daughter of an Innkeeper
(maybe)
• Concubine of Constantius
• Mother of Constantine
• Found the True Cross
• Built Churches in Jerusalem
Post Constantine
• Empire is Divided between his 3 sons
Constantine II, Constans, and Constantius
• Not very Christian boys
• Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed
by the barbarian Magnetius
• Constantius defeated Magnetius’ army,
resulting in Magnetus committing suicide,
becoming the sole Emperor of the Rome. A
weak ruler who died a natural death.
Julian the Apostate 361-363
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Nephew of Constantine
Last hurrah for Paganism
Persecuted Christians non-violently
Stoic and Virtuous by Roman standards
Sought to christianize Paganism
Schools run by Pagans
Superficially nice to Jews, tried and
failed to rebuild the Temple
Theodosius the Great 392-395
• The true beginning of the Christianized
Emperors
• Chastized by Ambrose for massacre
• Intiated the final suppression of
Paganism
• 391 banned under heavy fine the visiting
of Pagan temples for religious purposes
• Without state support of approval
Paganism collapsed as a system
Positive Effects of the
Christianized Roman Empire
1. Increased respect for women
2. Better treatment of slaves/freedom
for Christian slaves
3. Gladiator games slowed if not
stopped
4. More justice in Roman legislation
5. Missionary work accelerated
Negative Effects of the
Christianized Roman Empire
1. Pseudo-Conversion to maintain
power
2. Interference of government with
Church affairs and vice versa
3. Weakening of the faith
4. Persecution of Pagans/Heretics