Age of the Christian Roman Empire IAge of the Christian Roman Empire IAge of the Christian Roman Empire IAge of the Christian Roman Empire I

How Keanu Reeves changed the How Keanu Reeves changed the church foreverchurch forever

How Keanu Reeves changed the How Keanu Reeves changed the church foreverchurch forever

OK,OK,

Maybe NotMaybe Not

Age of the Christian Roman Age of the Christian Roman Empire IEmpire I

Age of the Christian Roman Age of the Christian Roman Empire IEmpire I

Constantine Constantine The Best and Worst thing ever to The Best and Worst thing ever to

Happen to ChristianityHappen to Christianity

Constantine Constantine The Best and Worst thing ever to The Best and Worst thing ever to

Happen to ChristianityHappen to Christianity

AKAAKA

Caius Flavius Valerius Caius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Claudius Aurelius Claudius

Constantius MagnusConstantius Magnus

End of GaleriusEnd of Galerius

• EwwwwwEwwwww

• Edict of Toleration 311Edict of Toleration 311

• Empire split between Maxentius, Empire split between Maxentius, Maximian and ConstantineMaximian and Constantine

• EwwwwwEwwwww

• Edict of Toleration 311Edict of Toleration 311

• Empire split between Maxentius, Empire split between Maxentius, Maximian and ConstantineMaximian and Constantine

Constantine’s Early LifeConstantine’s Early Life

• Son of Co-Emperor Constantius Son of Co-Emperor Constantius Chlorus and HelenaChlorus and Helena

• Served under Diocletian during the Served under Diocletian during the Egyptian and Persian WarsEgyptian and Persian Wars

• Returned to father in Gaul to Returned to father in Gaul to become Emperorbecome Emperor

• Son of Co-Emperor Constantius Son of Co-Emperor Constantius Chlorus and HelenaChlorus and Helena

• Served under Diocletian during the Served under Diocletian during the Egyptian and Persian WarsEgyptian and Persian Wars

• Returned to father in Gaul to Returned to father in Gaul to become Emperorbecome Emperor

Constantine’s ConquestConstantine’s ConquestConstantine’s ConquestConstantine’s Conquest

• Maximian Herculius father of Maximian Herculius father of MaxentiusMaxentius

• Galerius DiesGalerius Dies• Maxentius now “Co” Emperor Maxentius now “Co” Emperor

with Constantinewith Constantine• Battle of Milvian BridgeBattle of Milvian Bridge

• Maximian Herculius father of Maximian Herculius father of MaxentiusMaxentius

• Galerius DiesGalerius Dies• Maxentius now “Co” Emperor Maxentius now “Co” Emperor

with Constantinewith Constantine• Battle of Milvian BridgeBattle of Milvian Bridge

Tuto Nike Hoc VinceTuto Nike Hoc VinceConstantine’s VisionConstantine’s Vision

Tuto Nike Hoc VinceTuto Nike Hoc VinceConstantine’s VisionConstantine’s Vision

• Actual AppearanceActual Appearance

• Pious FraudPious Fraud

• IllusionIllusion

• There are no miracles, just pretty There are no miracles, just pretty cloudsclouds

• DreamDream

• Actual AppearanceActual Appearance

• Pious FraudPious Fraud

• IllusionIllusion

• There are no miracles, just pretty There are no miracles, just pretty cloudsclouds

• DreamDream

Constantine WinsConstantine Wins

Yay!Yay!

Effects of Constantine WinningEffects of Constantine Winning

• Edict of Toleration with Co-Regent LiciniusEdict of Toleration with Co-Regent Licinius• Christian clergy exempt from Christian clergy exempt from

military/municipal dutymilitary/municipal duty• Abolished offensive pagan customsAbolished offensive pagan customs• Emancipation of Christian slavesEmancipation of Christian slaves• Legalized bequests to catholic churchesLegalized bequests to catholic churches• Sunday -> dies Solis (day of the Sun)Sunday -> dies Solis (day of the Sun)• Contributed to the building of ChurchesContributed to the building of Churches

Bad ConstantineBad Constantine Bad ConstantineBad Constantine

• Warred against his brother in law Warred against his brother in law Licinius defeating him in 324Licinius defeating him in 324

• Violates promise of mercy and Violates promise of mercy and executes Licinius and 11 year old son executes Licinius and 11 year old son LiciniusLicinius

• Executes Crispus his eldest son for Executes Crispus his eldest son for treason as well as committing incest treason as well as committing incest with Fausta (Constantine’s Wife)with Fausta (Constantine’s Wife)

• Warred against his brother in law Warred against his brother in law Licinius defeating him in 324Licinius defeating him in 324

• Violates promise of mercy and Violates promise of mercy and executes Licinius and 11 year old son executes Licinius and 11 year old son LiciniusLicinius

• Executes Crispus his eldest son for Executes Crispus his eldest son for treason as well as committing incest treason as well as committing incest with Fausta (Constantine’s Wife)with Fausta (Constantine’s Wife)

Move to Byzantium 330ADMove to Byzantium 330ADMove to Byzantium 330ADMove to Byzantium 330AD

• Byzantium is renamed Constantinople Byzantium is renamed Constantinople

• Many Churches builtMany Churches built

• Idols eliminated (modified)Idols eliminated (modified)

• 60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine

• Byzantium is renamed Constantinople Byzantium is renamed Constantinople

• Many Churches builtMany Churches built

• Idols eliminated (modified)Idols eliminated (modified)

• 60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine

End of ConstantineEnd of ConstantineEnd of ConstantineEnd of Constantine

• Deathbed baptism, performed by the Deathbed baptism, performed by the semi-Arian bishop Eusebius of semi-Arian bishop Eusebius of NicomediaNicomedia

• Baptized declaring “Now let us cast Baptized declaring “Now let us cast away all duplicity”away all duplicity”

• Wore only baptism robes until death Wore only baptism robes until death a few days later, on Pentecost, May, a few days later, on Pentecost, May, 22, 33722, 337

Saint HelenaSaint HelenaSaint HelenaSaint Helena

• Daughter of an Innkeeper Daughter of an Innkeeper (maybe)(maybe)

• Concubine of ConstantiusConcubine of Constantius• Mother of Constantine Mother of Constantine • Found the True CrossFound the True Cross• Built Churches in JerusalemBuilt Churches in Jerusalem

• Daughter of an Innkeeper Daughter of an Innkeeper (maybe)(maybe)

• Concubine of ConstantiusConcubine of Constantius• Mother of Constantine Mother of Constantine • Found the True CrossFound the True Cross• Built Churches in JerusalemBuilt Churches in Jerusalem

Post ConstantinePost ConstantinePost ConstantinePost Constantine• Empire is Divided between his 3 sons Empire is Divided between his 3 sons

Constantine II, Constans, and ConstantiusConstantine II, Constans, and Constantius

• Not very christian boysNot very christian boys

• Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed by the barbarian Magnetiusby the barbarian Magnetius

• Constantius defeated Magnetius who then Constantius defeated Magnetius who then committed suicide and became the sole committed suicide and became the sole Emperor of the Rome. A weak ruler who died Emperor of the Rome. A weak ruler who died a natural death.a natural death.

• Empire is Divided between his 3 sons Empire is Divided between his 3 sons Constantine II, Constans, and ConstantiusConstantine II, Constans, and Constantius

• Not very christian boysNot very christian boys

• Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed by the barbarian Magnetiusby the barbarian Magnetius

• Constantius defeated Magnetius who then Constantius defeated Magnetius who then committed suicide and became the sole committed suicide and became the sole Emperor of the Rome. A weak ruler who died Emperor of the Rome. A weak ruler who died a natural death.a natural death.

Julian the Apostate 361-363Julian the Apostate 361-363Julian the Apostate 361-363Julian the Apostate 361-363

• Nephew of ConstantineNephew of Constantine

• Last hurrah for PaganismLast hurrah for Paganism

• Persecuted Christians non-violentlyPersecuted Christians non-violently

• Stoic and Virtuous by Roman standardsStoic and Virtuous by Roman standards

• Sought to christianize PaganismSought to christianize Paganism

• Schools run by PagansSchools run by Pagans

• Nice to Jews, tried and failed to rebuild Nice to Jews, tried and failed to rebuild the Templethe Temple

• Nephew of ConstantineNephew of Constantine

• Last hurrah for PaganismLast hurrah for Paganism

• Persecuted Christians non-violentlyPersecuted Christians non-violently

• Stoic and Virtuous by Roman standardsStoic and Virtuous by Roman standards

• Sought to christianize PaganismSought to christianize Paganism

• Schools run by PagansSchools run by Pagans

• Nice to Jews, tried and failed to rebuild Nice to Jews, tried and failed to rebuild the Templethe Temple

Theodosius the Great 392-395Theodosius the Great 392-395

• The true beginning of the Christianized The true beginning of the Christianized EmperorsEmperors

• Chastised by Ambrose for massacreChastised by Ambrose for massacre• Initiated the final suppression of Initiated the final suppression of

PaganismPaganism• 391 banned under heavy fine the visiting 391 banned under heavy fine the visiting

of Pagan temples for religious purposesof Pagan temples for religious purposes• Without state support of approval Without state support of approval

Paganism collapsed as a systemPaganism collapsed as a system

Positive Effects of the Positive Effects of the Christianized Roman EmpireChristianized Roman Empire

Positive Effects of the Positive Effects of the Christianized Roman EmpireChristianized Roman Empire

1.1. Increased respect for womenIncreased respect for women

2.2. Better treatment of slaves/freedom Better treatment of slaves/freedom for Christian slavesfor Christian slaves

3.3. Gladiator games slowed if not Gladiator games slowed if not stoppedstopped

4.4. More justice in Roman legislationMore justice in Roman legislation

5.5. Missionary work acceleratedMissionary work accelerated

1.1. Increased respect for womenIncreased respect for women

2.2. Better treatment of slaves/freedom Better treatment of slaves/freedom for Christian slavesfor Christian slaves

3.3. Gladiator games slowed if not Gladiator games slowed if not stoppedstopped

4.4. More justice in Roman legislationMore justice in Roman legislation

5.5. Missionary work acceleratedMissionary work accelerated

Negative Effects of the Negative Effects of the Christianized Roman EmpireChristianized Roman Empire

Negative Effects of the Negative Effects of the Christianized Roman EmpireChristianized Roman Empire

1.1. Pseudo-Conversion to maintain Pseudo-Conversion to maintain powerpower

2.2. Interference of government with Interference of government with Church affairsChurch affairs

3.3. Weakening of the faith Weakening of the faith

4.4. Persecution of Pagans/HereticsPersecution of Pagans/Heretics

1.1. Pseudo-Conversion to maintain Pseudo-Conversion to maintain powerpower

2.2. Interference of government with Interference of government with Church affairsChurch affairs

3.3. Weakening of the faith Weakening of the faith

4.4. Persecution of Pagans/HereticsPersecution of Pagans/Heretics