Third Century Background for The Middle Ages Diocletian Constantine Christianity Dating Systems Julian Calendar – Roman dates – Reformed in in 45 BCE – Consultant: Sosigenes of Alexandria Gregorian Calendar – 16th century BC/AD – Bede d. 735 Eid Mar Denarius 42 B.C.E. The Middle Ages Why “middle” or “dark”? Early Middle Ages – 500-1000 Central or High Middle Ages – 1000-1300 Later Middle Ages – 1300- Roman Empire - 3rd Century Classical Culture Survives the crisis of the third century Reaches the Middle Ages through – Eastern Empire – Islam – Frankish Kingdoms – Christianity Christianity Background Origins Expansion Dissent Monasticism Origins Judaism Objections Jesus of Nazareth c. 4 BC – Imperial cult – AD 30 – Jesus as a criminal Paul of Tarsus – Secret rituals Appeal • Cannibalism • Love feasts – Social class – Women – Community – afterlife Organization Bishops Emperors’ partners – Doctrine – Replace curiales • Orthodox Bishop of Rome • heretical Scriptural – Apostolic succession justification – Ordination • Priests – Control of finances The spread of Christianity Christianity differed from other mystery religions Founder/savior was a historical person Christian God seen as the One God, the God of the Jews, and unique for centuries Holy Men/Saints Self-denial and martyrdom Piety and humility Withdrawal from the world – Ascetics – Hermits – Monks – Monasteries Relics Forearm of St. Desirderius Reorganization Sources Diocletian 284-305 – Tetrarchy – Wage/price controls – Limitations on farmers and the elite – Great Persecution 303-311 Diocletian 284-305 Tetrarchy – Diocletian: Balkans, Asia Minor • Nicomedia – Galerius: East – Maximian: Italy, North Africa – Constantius Chlorus: Gaul, Britain Dominate Oriental court ceremony Purple robes Diadem Divine connections – Jupiter – Hercules Diocletian’s palace Diocletians Camp Palmyra c.300 The Eastern empire survives Richer – – Trade routes – China, Damascus, Alexandria – Cities – biggest and richest – Diverse agriculture Dealing with barbarians Military efforts – Diplomacy – Bribery Roman Institutions and Byzantine Uses Consul – Appointed by emperor Quaestor – Legal advisor through 7th century Senate – Until 1453, emperor’s men Army – always power behind the throne CONSTANTINE THE GREAT Constantine 305-337 – First Christian emperor – Founder of Constantinople Source – Eusebius – Church History – Life of Constantine Milvian Bridge 312 Edict of Milan 313 Council of Nicaea 325 308 In the West: – Licenius – augustus – Constantine – caesar In the East – Galerius – augustus – Maximinus Daia – caesar (nephew of Galerius) 311 - 312 Tetrarchy collapses East vs West Milvian Bridge – 312 – Lactantius – Eusebius Milvian Bridge by Raphael Constantine’s Conversion Rubens Constantine and Christianity Conversion? – Importance of Christianity – like earlier Rome, religion is key to success and prosperity Favoritism Wealth Intervention – Council of Nicaea 325 Baptized in 337 Triumphal arch - Rome Bucoleon and Blachernae Palace Aghia Irene Internal dissent Heresy Arianism Monophysitism Nestorianism Arianism Arius c. 260-336 “begotten” from nothing Not co-eternal Council at Nicaea – 325 – 220 bishops Lingering belief Monophysitism Single, divine nature 6th century split – Egypt • Coptic – Ethiopia – Syria – Armenia Nestorianism Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople 428 Birth of Jesus – Human – Divine comes later Rejects Theotokos – Bearer of God Condemned in 425 but flourish elsewhere – Arabia, China, India MONASTICISM Withdrawal Monk or “monos” Antony c. 251-356 Symeon the Stylite 390-459 Relics – protection and healing Pachomius – Communities in Upper Egypt Syrian monastery.