Lecture 10: Diocletian, Constantine And Christianity

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End of the Third Century

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Between 235 and 284 there had been 25 emperors; average of one or two a year; all but two were murdered or killed in battle; nearly all came from the military; the economy worsened, the frontiers remained fluid, and the issue of succession was never resolved.

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Diocletian: 245-312 BC

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come from the army; resolved that the contemporary organization of the Empire under one ruler was unsustainable; instituted reforms, conveniently known as the Reforms of Diocletian.

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Reforms of Diocletian

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: In theory, the succession problem and the government of the Empire was solved with the Tetrarchy. However, in the end, it also proved to be a recipe for civil war after the death of Diocletian. 305: Diocletian and Maximian step down - Constantius and Galerius take place of Emperors; New Caesars appointed Severus and Maximus.

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. Reform the Economy

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inflation still a problem; introduced totally new coinage; instituted Edict on Maximum Prices (price fixing...death penalty for those who broke it); unsuccessful in this realm.

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Reform the Military

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expanded army form 400k to 450k; reorganized the traditional Legions of the empire, expanding the legions on the frontiers while cutting back on Italian legions; expanded use of cavalry for the first time as a means of providing fast moving troops.

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Government reform

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established new system of rule, tetrachy, rule of four; two emperors, one in East, on in West; each emperor had a “ceasar” or junior emperor who would step in later; EAST Diocletian (E), Galerius (Caesar); WEST Maximian (E), Constantius (Caesar)

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Succession Issues

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Constantius died in Britain, and his army raised his son, Constantine, as an “augusts”; several generals vied for control of the various parts of the Empire; 312: there were two leaders - Constantine and Maxentius. (battle of the Milvian Bridge and Constantine's “dream”)

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Constantine as Emperor 313

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-Edict of milan - religous toleration within Empire; not endorsement of Christianity; Moved capital of Empire from Rome to Byzantium (Constantinople) - rebuilt temples, churches etc; kept him away from Rome, Senate pagans.
- Did he become Christian: originally worshipped Sol Invictus; supported Christianity, but
was not baptized till deathbed (fairly common) but supported pagan religions.

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Christianity Begins with who?

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Jesus of Nazareth

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Christianity

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essentially developed as an offshoot of Judaism, then as blend of Greek neo-platonism with Judaism; story of Jesus and his teachings found in writings that were put to paper several generations after he was on earth.

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Organization of Early Church

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-very loosely organized
-very urban in nature
-in first centuries often spread in relation to Jewish communities in the Empire
-early spread
-celebration of sacraments performed in homes (no formal spaces).

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Lingering Problems in Early Christianity

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Relationship with Roman Empire; post-persecutions, what to do with those who gave up the Romans (donatus controversy); Definition of the person of Jesus (essentially, there are two elements to the person of Jesus: divinity and humanity; Given those two constructs, there are a limited number of possibilities to explain Jesus’ person)

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Identity of Jesus:

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1. Jesus all Divine, not Human: position of Gnostics, who thought it was essentially
impossible for God to take human form (neo-Platoni, Logos).
2. Jesus all Divine, sort of Human: position of Docetists, who believed that Jesus took on
the appearance of humanity.
3. Jesus all Human, not really Divine: Position of Arius of Alexandria; “adoptionism”
4. Jesus all Human, All Divine: position of Athanasius

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Constantine's solution to the church

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Constantine's solution was to draw leaders of the church together to resolve the problems; He thought that religion could provide unity for the Empire.

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council of Arles 314

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Constantine way to resolve the Donatist controversy: resolution - if clergy turned against the Faith, the sacraments still count...people don’t have to get re-Baptised.

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Council of Nicaea (325)

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defined Jesus as “begotten, not made, or the same substance as the Father”; Established Creed, deny the creed, excommunication; Bishop Arius, excommunicated and exiled.

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Council of Constantinople

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holy spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son; official endorsement of the Trinity.

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Council of Ephesus 431

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Proclaimed Mary “Theotokus”; repudiated Pelagianism.

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Pelagius opinion on god

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you can attain salvation on your own

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Augustines opinion on god

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-You are totally dependent upon God
-Fundamental issue in Christian theology, not necessarily one of free will, per se, but
whether God is really in control of things.

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Organization of the Church

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Church organized itself geographically along the lines of Roman government; Christian diocese corresponded to Roman territorial divisions; each diocese was centered on an urban center, with the periphery lands controlled by the government in the urban center; each diocese guided by a bishop.

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Bishops and Diocese

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So each diocese (East and West) had a bishop. Issue of “apostolic succession”; each of these five were originally founded by apostles

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Important Dioceses

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Rome (Peter/Paul), Constantinople (Andrew/New
Rome/Constantine), Jerusalem, (James) Antioch (Peter), and Alexandria (Mark).

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Bishop of Rome

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East - Idea of Rome as leader among equals. West - Idea of Rome as “pre-eminent” among bishops.

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Primacy of Rome

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Overt arguments for Primacy - Apostle Peter primary among apostles; Peter then ordained his successors in Rome; Bishops are successors to the apostles.

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Capital of Roman Christianity: Old St. Peters

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Built by Constantine in 330; built in the manner of a “basilica” or Roman meeting hall; cite chosen because of connection with the tomb of St. Peter; five aisles, with altar right about the tomb of Peter.

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Roman Tombs

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a roadway of tombs mostly Roman (pagan); Romans typically buried families in group tombs, flesh would decay and bones collected.
-Excavations began in the 1930’s as part of an expansion of the crypt under the basilica.

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Eastern Empire: (395)

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Made Christianity THE religion of the Empire

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The Reign of Justinian I:

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Rule began in 527; saw himself as “the New Constantine”; reformed law, expanded borders, made treaties with Persians, expanded the influence of the Church.

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Justinian and the Law

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Up to this point, the law in the Roman Empire was a loose collection of documents and precedents with no organization; Forms the basis of many continental legal systems, partially Canon Law but NOT English Law.

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Wars of Justinian

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: Made a peace treaty with the Persians in the East, allowing him to look West; attempted to retake the Western Empire from barbarians - Italy and North Africa retaken in “The Gothic War”; settlement did not last much longer than Justinian’s life.

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Justinian and Religion

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Paganism actively suppressed; Sponsored massive building campaigns in Constantinople; Regulated activities of Christiantiy as Emperor: threatened “heretics” with legal punishment; declared the proclamations of Church councils the same as law

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Hagia Sophie

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Holy Wisdom