Transcript Understanding Historical Change: Medieval History

Late Antiquity:
The Later Roman
Empire, 284-350
Roma aeterna civitas left powerfully enduring remains in
Western Europe: material, linguistic, economic,
political, military, scientific, religious and literary
Latin remained as language of educated elites in Western Europe; and
spoken language in many areas; much of the writing of early medieval
Europe was based on Roman/Latin models
Rome became seat of the Papacy; many Roman cities became episcopal sees
Roman law (eventually codified by Justinian) remained in use as customary
law around Mediterranean
Roman buildings, forts, roads, aqueducts, bridges left standing in many areas,
or reincorporated into new structures
Nova Roma Aeternas: Eastern Roman Empire did not fall until 1453. New
“Roman Empire” in West under Charlemagne.
The Roman Empire at its height
(Death of Trajan)
Timeline
 27 BCE to 14 CE: reign of princeps
Augustus Caesar (see left)
 284-305: Diocletian: Reforms of Empire
(Tetrarchy) and Persecutions of
Christians
 306-337: Reign of Constantine
 395: Permanent division of Empire East
and West after death of Theodosius
 410: Romans no longer in Britain;
Visigoths sack Rome
 455: Vandals overrun N. Africa, build
navy, and sack Rome
 476: German chieftain Flavius Odoacer,
captures last Western Roman Emperor,
Romulus Augustulus
Roman theatre in Fiesole, Italy
(late first cent. BCE-early first cent. CE)
Roman caldarium in Bath, England
(first century CE)
Roman Bridge in Alcántara, Spain
(104-106 CE)
Reforms of Diocletian,
284-305 CE
Constantine the Great
r. 306-337

Battle of Milvian Bridge (312)

Edict of Milan (313)

reign as sole emperor (323-337)

Council of Nicaea (325)

Capital of Empire established in
Byzantium, renamed
Constantinople (330)
Arch of Constantine, Rome
Eusebius of Caesarea
Life of Eusebius (c. 260-339 CE)

Born in Palestine and educated and later bishop of Caesarea (c. 313-14)

Wrote a great deal: works of history (History of the Church, Life of Constantine), theology,
biblical exegesis

Not much known about his life; condemned as a heretic, although later rehabilitated at the
Council of Nicaea
The Ecclesiastical History

Written in Greek between
314-324/325
Covers the history of Christianity
from the life of Christ to the
reign
of Constantine


The first narrative history of the
Church, written in a “classical”
style
Left: Ruins of Caesarea today
Late Imperial propaganda
To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, the greatest, pious, and blessed
Augustus: because he, inspired by the divine, and by the greatness of his
mind, has delivered the state from the tyrant and all of his followers at the
same time, with his army and just force of arms, the Senate and People of
Rome have dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs.
Next Week
 Thursday: Read Tacitus, Germania and Ammianus
Marcellinus “Battle of Hadrianople” (both on Trial of
Formosus blog)
 For Tacitus (first century CE): what are the main points
of his ethnography of the Germans? Can you guess
Tacitus’ purpose for this source? What are the clues?
 For Marcellinus (fourth century CE): Does Marcellinus
think differently of the Germans? Are there points in
common between the two texts?
 Source Edition Due on Thursday