Dr. Vess's World Civilization Virtual Library

The History of Rome from Diocletian
Through the Collapse of the West

OBJECTIVES:

1. Be able to discuss the reforms of Diocletian as well as his persecution of Christians. 2. Be able to discuss events leading to the "conversion" of Constantine. Be able to discuss the character of his conversion by reference to his writings, actions, beliefs, and other evidence from his reign. 3. Be able to discuss the significance of the Edict of Milan and its major provisions. 4. Be able to discuss the heresies which occurred during the reign of Constantine. Be able to assess his role in the resolution of these controversies. 5. Be able to explain the decrees of the Council of Nicaea. 6. Be able to discuss the impact of Constantine's treatment of the Church on church-state relations in the Middle Ages. 7. Be able to discuss the treatment of the church in the later fourth century by Theodosius. 8. Be able to discuss the spread of Christianity, tracing its dissemination across Europe. 9. Be able to explain the collapse of the Empire in the West. 10. Be able to trace the movements and migrations of the barbarians and the major events which caused the collapse of Rome. 11. Be able to discuss several historical theories explaining the collapse of Rome. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What advantages or disadvantages are there in fusing church and state? What cultures/empires/societies have united the concerns of the state with those of the predominant religion? What is the meaning of true conversion? The Roman empire degenerated after the death of Augustus. Civil strife and political corruption ruled the day. A growing minority, those who followed the teachings of Christ, were often blamed for the woes of Rome and persecuted by several emperors. In general, it could be said that Romans had lost their fierce loyalty to Rome, and had shifted that loyalty to whoever or whatever might benefit their own careers. Christians were especially suspect, for they refused to sacrifice in the cult of the emperor. In the late third and early fourth century, the emperor Diocletian attempted to divide the empire to make these problems more manageable. His was a noble idea, which failed in ignoble times. In the wake of the civil war which followed the resignation of Diocletian, Constantine, son of the Caesar in the West, emerged as the victor. He became the first Christian roman emperor, and forged a united Christendom, an empire in which church and state were one. The foundation was laid for the succeeding Middle Ages, an age in which faith triumphed and established the Catholic Church as one of the most important institutions from east to west. We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed. Tertullian, Apologeticus, 50. OUTLINE I. General difficulties since the Age of Augustus A. decay of patrician class B. decadence of society C. revolt of the Jews -- Hadrian and Titus D. The Barbarians -- Hadrian's Wall Trajan's column II. Diocletian A. 284 A.D. -- division of the empire tetrarchy 2 emperors 2 caesars plan for orderly succession B. wage and price controls freezing of status and jobs C. 303 A.D. -- Persecution of Christians i. The many varieties of Roman religion ii. Why was Christianity a threat? D. Diocletian's palacea virtual tour

E. The Civil War following Diocletian's abdication II. The Victor -- Constantine, first Christian Emperor A. The son of the Caesar in the West member of the sun cult B. 312 A.D. The Battle of Milvian Bridge The vision in the sky "In hoc signo vinces" C. 313 A.D. The Edict of Milan Tolerance for Christians D. Legitimacy of his conversion? i. coins displaying image of SUN vs. SON ii. identification of SUN with SON? iii. baptism on deathbed E. The capital moved to Byzantium, renamed Constantinople i. view digitized images of Constantinople: link to Byzantine Images and scroll down to Constantinople section. III. The use of Christianity to control the state -- A. persecution of heretics: i. The Donatist Heresy Caecilian: allegedly consecrated bishop of Carthage by a traditor Donatus: hardliner who refused to accept Caecilian as legitimate The solution -- The Council of Arles (314 a.d.): Caecilian could not be found guilty of any wrongdoing nor could the man who consecrated him The solution of the fifth century: Augustine and grace the theology of the priesthood ii. The Arian Heresy Arius, priest from Alexandria Christ as Creature "There was a time when He was not" ********* Christ not fully Divine******* problems with redemption theology The Council of Nicaea -- 325 A.D. The "Nicene" Creed: Important clauses: "we believe in one lord Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father." IV. The Aftermath and the affect on Church and State A. The Theodosian Code Cunctos Populos -- 380 A.D. Nullus Haereticus 381 A.D. Christianity as THE religion of state B. Caesaropapism and the Middle Ages C. The Spread of Christianity The Visigoths Britain -- 597 A.D. Boniface and the English Mission to the continent V. The collapse of the Empire in the West i. The Barbarian Invasions The Huns: Priscus at Attila's Court The Visigoths (western Goths) The Battle of Adrianople -- 378 a.d. Alaric and The Sack of Rome -- 410 A.D. and 455 A.D. The Franks The Lombards The Ostrogoths (eastern Goths) The Vandals and North Africa -- 429 A.D. ii. The Last Roman Emperor in the West -- Romulus Augustulus -- 476 A.D. iii. Fusion of Barbarian and Roman Customs customary law -- the Ordeal vs. written law VI. Theories about the Fall of Rome Did Rome collapse? H. Pirenne's thesis Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: moral decadence Christianity!!!!! Augustine and the City of God -- The Medieval World View

The History of Rome from Diocletian Through the Collapse of the West

OBJECTIVES:

The History of Rome from Diocletian
Through the Collapse of the West