Ch. 1.3: Rome and the Rise of Christianity 509BCE – 476CE.

Ch. 1.3: Rome and Ch. 1.3: Rome and the Rise of the Rise of ChristianityChristianity

509BCE – 476CE509BCE – 476CE

I. The Roman StateI. The Roman StateA.A. While Greece is in decline, While Greece is in decline,

Rome is developing powerRome is developing power1.1. Began as a monarchy, but Began as a monarchy, but

by 509BCE overthrown by by 509BCE overthrown by the the aristocracy, who aristocracy, who created a republic (power created a republic (power is held by citizens who is held by citizens who elect leaders to make elect leaders to make decisions – representative decisions – representative democracy)democracy)

2.2. 2 Groups competed for 2 Groups competed for power:power:– PatriciansPatricians: aristocratic : aristocratic

landowners, held the landowners, held the most powermost power

– PlebeiansPlebeians: farmers, : farmers, artisans, merchants; artisans, merchants; sought (and eventually sought (and eventually gained) powergained) power

Patricians

Senators

Military Tunics

Plebs

A. Roman GovernmentA. Roman Government1.1. Roman gov. set up w/ Roman gov. set up w/

separate branchesseparate branches

2.2. ExecutiveExecutive: 2 consuls, : 2 consuls, chosen annually, headed chosen annually, headed army and ran gov.army and ran gov.

3.3. LegislativeLegislative: Senate and 2 : Senate and 2 assembliesassemblies

– SenateSenate made up of 300 made up of 300 landownerslandowners Made foreign policy, Made foreign policy,

economic policy and economic policy and advised consulsadvised consuls

– Assemblies – Assemblies – Council of Council of PlebsPlebs, created 471BCE to , created 471BCE to protect plebeiansprotect plebeians

Tribunes were elected by & protected the rights of the plebs.

Senators were chosen for life. They protected the Treasury & made laws.

B. Roman LawB. Roman Law1.1. Twelve TablesTwelve Tables, 451BCE: , 451BCE:

First First writtenwritten code of laws code of laws2.2. At first, civil laws only At first, civil laws only

applied to Roman citizens, applied to Roman citizens, but as Rome expanded and but as Rome expanded and brought conquered people brought conquered people under its rule had to create under its rule had to create a universal system of laws, a universal system of laws, Law of NationsLaw of Nations

– Based on reason and Based on reason and justice, applied to all justice, applied to all peoples, protect citizens peoples, protect citizens and propertyand property

– Principles: Principles: all citizens have equal all citizens have equal

protection under the lawprotection under the law Innocent until proven guiltyInnocent until proven guilty The burden of proof rests w/ The burden of proof rests w/

the accuserthe accuser Unfair laws repealedUnfair laws repealed

The Twelve Tables were hung in the Roman Forum.

C. Code of JustinianC. Code of Justinian

1.1. By 528CE, Emperor Justinian By 528CE, Emperor Justinian compiled all laws throughout the compiled all laws throughout the Empire into 4 books:Empire into 4 books:

– The Code (500 laws)The Code (500 laws)– The Digest (legal opinions)The Digest (legal opinions)– The Novellae (new laws added after The Novellae (new laws added after

534CE)534CE)– The Institutes (law textbook)The Institutes (law textbook)

2.2. Created a Created a government of laws, not government of laws, not of menof men

Justinian I & Empress TheodoraJustinian I & Empress TheodoraByzantine Rulers, 527-565CEByzantine Rulers, 527-565CE

Mosaic, San Vitale Cathedral, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 547.

II. The Influence of the Roman EmpireII. The Influence of the Roman EmpireA.A. Roman republic lasted Roman republic lasted

5 centuries, but by 15 centuries, but by 1stst Century became an Century became an EmpireEmpire– Expansion of empire Expansion of empire

too large for a republic too large for a republic to controlto control

1.1. AugustusAugustus (formerly (formerly Caesar Octavian) Caesar Octavian) began the Roman began the Roman Empire in 27BCEEmpire in 27BCE

2.2. Pax RomanaPax Romana, period , period of peace and of peace and prosperity beginning prosperity beginning under Augustus & under Augustus & lasting from 14-lasting from 14-180CE.180CE.

Augustus, 1st C., Roman marble copy of bronze statue, Vatican Museum.

Roman language, law, architecture, Roman language, law, architecture, and engineering spread throughout and engineering spread throughout

EmpireEmpire

Roman Empire ca. 116CE at its largest extent

Roman Architecture: The Colosseum, 72 – Roman Architecture: The Colosseum, 72 – 80CE80CE

III. The Development of III. The Development of ChristianityChristianity

A.A. The birth & expansion of The birth & expansion of Christianity occurred in the Christianity occurred in the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.

1.1. Empire spread to Judaea Empire spread to Judaea (Palestine) by 6CE(Palestine) by 6CE

2.2. JesusJesus (ca. 6BCE-29CE), a (ca. 6BCE-29CE), a Jewish prophet, preached Jewish prophet, preached simple message & told simple message & told followers he did not want followers he did not want to destroy traditional to destroy traditional religionreligion

3.3. Transformation of inner Transformation of inner person most important, not person most important, not strict following of lawsstrict following of laws

4.4. Taught to love God and Taught to love God and one anotherone another

5.5. Ethical ideas: humility, Ethical ideas: humility, charity, brotherly lovecharity, brotherly love Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio

1601, The National Gallery, London.

6.6. Conservatives believed Conservatives believed he was undermining he was undermining respect for traditional respect for traditional JudaismJudaism

7.7. Romans believed he was Romans believed he was a potential revolutionarya potential revolutionary

8.8. Given up by opponents to Given up by opponents to Pontius PilatePontius Pilate, the Roman , the Roman procurator, who ordered procurator, who ordered death by crucifixiondeath by crucifixion

9.9. Loyal followers spread Loyal followers spread story of his resurrection story of his resurrection and proclaimed him the and proclaimed him the MessiahMessiah

Pilate, Giotto, 1305, fresco, Arena Chapel, Padua.

Flagellation, Caravaggio, 1607, Naples.

The Passion in Western ArtThe Passion in Western Art

Entry into Jerusalem, Duccio, 1311, panel, Siena (Early Renaissance).

Christ Washing the Disciples Feet, Tintoretto, 1547, Oil, Prado Museum, Madrid (Renaissance).

The Last Supper, Dali, 1955, Oil, National Gallery, Washington, D.C. (Surrealism)

The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio, 1602, Oil, National Gallery, Dublin (Baroque).

The Denial of Peter, Rembrandt, 1660, Oil, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. (Baroque)

Christ Before Pilate, Pontormo, 1525, fresco, Florence.

The Flagellation, della Francesca, 1460, tempera, Urbino.

Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco, 1580, the Met, New York.

Deposition, Van der Weyden, 1440, Prado Museum, Madrid.

Pieta, Michelangelo, 1499, marble sculpture, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.

Lamentation, Giotto, 1305, Arena Chapel, Padua.

Entombment, Raphael, 1507, Galleria Borghese, Rome.

Resurrection, Bellini, 1479, Berlin.

The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Caravaggio, 1602, Potsdam.

Ascension of Christ, Perugino, 1498, Lyon.

B. Christian Persecution & Final B. Christian Persecution & Final TriumphTriumph Early Christianity Early Christianity

viewed as small viewed as small sectsect w/in Judaismw/in Judaism

Christians persecuted Christians persecuted under Emperor under Emperor NeroNero (54-68CE) after the (54-68CE) after the “great Roman fire” of “great Roman fire” of 64CE64CE– Refused to honor Refused to honor

Roman gods & emperorRoman gods & emperor Grew slowly anyway & Grew slowly anyway &

spread widely by 3spread widely by 3rdrd CenturyCentury

Crucifixion of St. Peter, Caravaggio, 1600, Sta. Maria del Popolo, Rome.

C. Spread of ChristianityC. Spread of Christianity1.1. Personal faith open to Personal faith open to

all all – All social classes All social classes

welcome: women, slaves, welcome: women, slaves, rich, poor had “spiritual rich, poor had “spiritual equality”equality”

2.2. Promise of salvationPromise of salvation

3.3. Familiar & easy to Familiar & easy to understand (Christ was understand (Christ was human)human)

4.4. Formation of Formation of communities, sense of communities, sense of belongingbelonging

5.5. 313CE 313CE ConstantineConstantine became 1st Christian became 1st Christian emperor & proclaimed emperor & proclaimed Edict of MilanEdict of Milan, official , official tolerance of Christianitytolerance of Christianity

6.6. Under Under Theodosius the Theodosius the GreatGreat (378-395CE), (378-395CE), Christianity became Christianity became official religion of the official religion of the Roman Empire, all others Roman Empire, all others illegalillegal

7.7. Throughout Middle Ages, Throughout Middle Ages, Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church dominated both religious dominated both religious & political life& political life

St. Ambrose forbids Theodosius from Entering the Church, Van Dyck, 1619, National Gallery, London.

The Pantheon, 125 – 28CEThe Pantheon, 125 – 28CE

Arch of Constantine, 312-Arch of Constantine, 312-315CE315CE