Transcript The Medieval World

The Makings of a Medieval World - 1
The Rise of Christianity and Islam
Christ being Baptized,
catacomb wall painting,
330 CE, Italy
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200 years before the fall in 476 CE, Rome
was led by Emperors and worshipped
pagan gods (Jupiter, Mars, Venus,
Neptune, etc.---Pantheon gods)
A new religion, with only one God at its
center, began to rise—Christianity
(originating from the Holy Lands)
From 40-313CE, Christianity was only a
small, secretive sect in Rome ---women
and slaves were accepted
Most Christians refused to pay homage
to the emperor and were persecuted
Rome and ConstantinopleCenters of Christianity
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new emphasis on
symbolism instead of
realism or naturalism.
Looking at the
spiritual world and
inner reality.
Reinterpret Greek
and Roman forms in
the service of
religion.
Art becomes more
two dimensional to
represent the
symbolic world.
Jesus as Apollo,
or the good shepherd
313—Edict of Milan
Emperor Constantine issues the
Edict of Milan which recognizes
Christianity as one of the official state
religions. Christians able to worship
openly. Flourishing of Christian art.
323—Constantine moves court to
Byzantium, in east (one of Rome’s
provinces). Later, Constantinople. Created
Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
Constantinople is present day Istanbul,
Turkey.
395 —Roman world formally divided into
an Eastern and Western Empires. Eastern
empire survives until capture of
Constantinople by Turks in 1453 CE.
early Roman catacomb
Peacock=immortality
The split of the empire also causes a
religious rift, creating the Catholic Church
in the West and the Orthodox Church in
the East.
Emperor Constantine
The Fall of the
Western Roman Empire
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402 CE—Emperor Honorius runs from Rome and
flees to Ravenna
while Rome under siege; hopes for protection by
Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople
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410 CE--- Barbarian Goths sack Rome
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476 CE—Fall of the Western Roman Empire in
Ravenna. Stability of vast Roman empire is smashed
with “pagan” invasions.
Dark Ages begin.
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Attack led by Odoacer, a Goth leader. Western
Roman Empire comes under Arian, Germanic rule.
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Popes maintain partial power in Rome.
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Odoacer’s successor, Theodoric, rules Western
empire until 540 CE, reinforcing pagan, humancentered ritual
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540--armies of the Eastern Roman Empire under
Emperor Justinian, conquered the West and reunited
the two empires for a short time
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Eastern empire, Byzantium---Constantinople--remains intact as a Christian area until conquered by
the Turks in 1453
Good Shepherd Separating the Sheep from the Goats, c. 520, Ravenna, Italy
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WEST = Roman Catholic Rule
EAST = Orthodox Byzantine rule
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•Western Roman art centers on telling a story,
making art human
Christianity is dominant religion in both empires, but
with different orientations
•Relates to Greco-Roman heritage of focus on
man
Byzantine Art
(Eastern Orthodox)
• Byzantine art is the art of the
Eastern Roman Empire and
describes a certain style
• Eastern empire brought to a
new level of power and
stability under Justinian
(527—565 CE).
• The Eastern Empire of
Byzantium hangs on even
through attacks by Arabian
armies, until it falls to the
Turks in 1453. Lasts up to the
Renaissance!
Mosaic of
Justinian
Emperor Justinian and Courtiers, c. 547
San Vitale, Ravenna
Reflecting a blend of religion and politics
Theodora gets equal billing…
Empress Theodora and Retinue, c. 547, San Vitale, Ravenna
Characteristics of
Byzantine Mosaics and Art
• Flattened, symbolic, (heavenly) space
(gold backgrounds common)
• Shapes and figures show continuing
trend toward shallow space
• Details are described by line, not light
and shade
• Elongated proportions
• Dematerialized bodies with strong
emphasis on the eyes
• Ornate haloes (fr. Persia - designating
descent from the Sun)
• Religious icons became an important
part of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Byzantine Churches in the Eastern Empire
Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”)
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523-537 CE
Built by Justinian in Constantinople
Combination of central plan and early Christian basilica
In 726, all religious paintings and statues were removed by the iconoclasts
turned into a mosque in 1453 when Islamic forces took over Constantinople, renaming the city Istanbul