A Brief History of Christianity to the 11th Century

HIST 30048/28/13

Roman Religion

Jupiter, Mars, and a temple to Augustus

Mystery Cults

Relief of Eleusinian rituals, a priestess of Isis, and Mithratic reliefs

Judaism

• 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)

Spread of Christianity: dark blue = before 325light blue = 325-600

• No centralized leadership

• Multiple sects• 5 Patriarchs

RomeConstantinopleAntiochJerusalemAlexandria

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 ThessalonicaNicean 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)