Transcript A Brief History of Christianity to the 11th Century

A Brief History of Christianity to
the 11th Century
HIST 3004
8/28/13
Roman Religion
Jupiter, Mars, and a temple to Augustus
Mystery Cults
Relief of Eleusinian rituals, a priestess of Isis, and Mithratic reliefs
Judaism
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Monotheism
Henotheism?
Roman Persecution
Messianism
Conversion
The Septuagant
2nd century CE glass goblet
Origins of Christianity – Messianism
and Mystery Cults
• Jesus of Nazareth
(7-2 BCE – 30-36CE)
• Reformist Jewish Rabbi
• Crucifixion
• Jesus Movement
• Messiah
• Trinity
Origins of Christianity - Conversion
• Apostles – Apostolic Age
(ca. 33-100CE)
• Saul (Paul) of Tarsus (5-67CE)
• Reformist Jews vs.
Conversion of Gentiles
Origins of Christianity – Differentiation
from Judaism
• Jewish-Roman Wars
(66-73, 115-117,
and 132-135)
• 70CE – Destruction of the
Temple
• Bar Kokhba Revolt
• Still problems with Roman
authorities…
Early Christianity (before 325CE)
• No centralized
leadership
• Multiple sects
• 5 Patriarchs
Rome
Constantinople
Antioch
Jerusalem
Alexandria
Spread of Christianity: dark blue = before 325
light blue = 325-600
Tetrarchy and Civil War
• 293 – Emperor Diocletian divides the empire.
• Two emperors and two junior emperors
• Augustus and
Caesar
• 306-324 –
Civil War over
complex succession
Imperial Christianity
• Constantine the Great
(r. 306-337)
• 312 – Battle of Milvian
Bridge
• “In this sign, you shall
conquer.”
• 313 – Edict of Milan ends
persecution of Christians
• 324 – Constantine converts,
moves capital to
Constantinople
Defining Christianity
• 325 – First Council of Nicea
• Nicean Creed
• Christology
• Arius (256-336) and the Arian
Controversy
• 380 – Edict of Thessalonica
Nicean Christianity becomes
state religion of Roman Empire
• 451 – Council of Chalcedon
• Monophysitism vs.
dyophysitism
2 Empires – 2 Churches
• 381 – First Council of
Constantinople – Elevates
Patriarch of Constantinople
• Sees of Rome and
Constantinople
• 395 – Western and Eastern
(Byzantine) Roman Empires
• Byzantine Emperor and
Patriarch of Constantinople
Western Church
• 476 – Fall of Western Empire
• Bishop of Rome (Pope) last potential unifying
force
• Donation of
Constantine
• Dec. 25, 800 – Pope
Leo III crowns
Charlemagne Emperor
The Reality
• Church relied on
secular lords for land,
financial support, and
security.
• Secular lords relied on
church for political support.
• In Germany, emperor
appointed church officials.
• “Most knights scrupulously
observed the rites of religion.
They were, however, little
troubled by Christian ethics.”
Monasticism
• Spiritual athletes
• Religious professionals
removed from the world
• The Benedictine Rule:
– Govern the behavior of monks
living in monasteries.
– Balance of work and devotion.
– Obligations of celibacy, poverty,
and obedience to the abbot.
– Regular clergy: living apart
from society.
Benedict of Nursira (ca. 480-547)