PowerPoint text from Lectures 15-16
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Lecture 15- Crisis and Christianity
I)
The Antonines
II)
3rd-Century Crisis
III)
Roman spirituality
IDs:
“Bread and circuses”
Antonine dynasty
Marcus Aurelius
Debasement
Septimus Severus
Barracks emperors
Sassanids
West Germanic Revolution
Goths
Neoplatonism
Mystery cults
Hasidim
Synoptic Gospels
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Gospel of John
69 AD- “The Year of the Four Emperors”
How are Emperors like the weather?
“We just to wait for bad ones to pass and hope for good ones to appear.” --Tacitus
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Arch of Titus (81 AD)
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The Coliseum (72-80 AD)
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Circus Maximus
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Give the People What they Want:
Bread and Circus
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Seneca and the Gladiatorial Games
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The Antonines (96- 193 AD)
Military leaders
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The Antonines (96- 193 AD)
Military leaders
Tradition of succession
Ended with Marcus Aurelius
Commodus
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II) Third-Century Crisis
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Third-Century Crisis (193 – 284 AD)
From Above
From Outside
From Below
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The Third-Century Crisis
Problems:
From Above
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Pertinax
Successor to Commodus
Appointed by Praetorian Guard
Career soldier
Killed by Praetorian Guard after 3 months
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Septimus Severus (r. 193-211)
Succeeded Pertinax
Military rule
Declining plunder
Confiscations from Senators
“Enrich the army, boys, and scorn the rest.”
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Caracalla
(r. 211-217)
and debasement
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“Barracks emperors”
Praetorian Guard
Financial problems
“Raised and destroyed”:
17 of the 20 emperors between 235 and 284 AD are killed by their own troops or other Romans
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The Third-Century Crisis
Problems:
From Above
From Outside
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Sassanid Empire
The Sassanids
Revived Persian Empire
After 227 AD
Capture of Emp. Valerian
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West Germanic Revolution
Initial clans
New alliances
Germans:
Franks
Alamanni
Gothic
Confederation:
Germans
Slavs
Scythians
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The Third-Century Crisis
Problems:
From Above
From Outside
From Below
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Plight of the lower classes
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Rebellion from below
Separatist generals
- client armies and mutinies
“Bulla the Lucky”
- Army of 600 men
- Northern Italy
“Carry this message back to your own masters: Let them feed their slaves so that they might not be
compelled to turn to a life of banditry.”
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III) Roman spirituality
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Imperial Response to Decline: Persecution
Early explanation of problems:
Roman gods were upset
- resistance from monotheists
Answer: enforce religious conformity
Lecture 15- Roman Spirituality
I)
Religion and consolation
II)
Persecution
III)
Christianity and Empire
IDs:
Mystery cults
Synoptic Gospels
John’s Gospel
Crucifixion
Saul of Tarsus
Ecclesiae
Social mission
Martyrs
Diocletian
Tetrarchy
Great Persecution
Constantine
Milvian Bridge
Bishops
dioceses
Arianism
Imperial Response: Persecution
Initial explanation of problems:
Roman gods were upset
- resistance from monotheists
Answer: enforce religious conformity
Neoplatonism
Founded by Plotinus
Three teachings:
1) Emanations
-soul
-matter
2) Mysticism
- reunion
3) Asceticism
- Denial of materialism
(c. 204-270 AD)
Roman “Mystery Cults”
From fringes to the center:
Isis
Mithras
Dionysius
Personal alternative to civic religion
Early Christianity:
“The Historical Jesus”
No direct texts- Greek-language records, 50-150 AD
Sources: Large numbers- about 50 gospels, 21 epistles
Gospels:
Synoptic books:
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke
Book of John
Acts and Epistles
Revelations
Post-Crucifixion Christianity (after 30 AD)
Resurrection
Peter
Jewish context
New elements
Baptism
Eucharist
Saul (Paul) of Tarsus
(c.10-c.63 AD)
Observant Jew
Also a Roman citizen
Universal mission
Debate within early Church
(Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15)
Spread of Christianity before 200 AD
Ecclesiae
Trading cities
<10,000 by 100 AD
200,000 by 200 AD
But only .3% of total imperial population
(60 million)
Social Mission of Christianity
II) Persecution
Roman Persecutions of Christians
Reaction to early problems
- ex. Nero
Monotheism as unpatriotic
“Atheism,” etc.
Sporadic
Intensifies during the 3rd-Century Crisis
Saint Perpetua’s martyrdom
(203 AD)
Now dawned the day of their victory, and they went forth from the prison into the amphitheatre as it
were into heaven, cheerful and bright of countenance; if they trembled at all, it was for joy, not for fear.
Perpetua followed behind, glorious of presence, as a true spouse of Christ and darling of God; at whose
piercing look all cast down their eyes. . . . For she said: For this cause came we willingly unto this, that
our liberty might not be obscured. For this cause have we devoted our lives, that we might do no such
thing as this; this we agreed with you. . . . Perpetua began to sing, as already treading on the Egyptian's
head. Revocatus and Saturninus and Saturus threatened the people as they gazed. Then when they
came into [Governor] Hilarian's sight, they began to say to Hilarian, stretching forth their hands and
nodding their heads: You judge us, they said, and God you. . . . Then truly they gave thanks because they
had received somewhat of the sufferings of the Lord.
Christianity and Suffering
Two Major policies of Diocletian (r. 284-305)
Overextended empire
1) Tetrarchy:
East and West sections
Augustus- senior
Caesar- junior
Dominus
2) “Great Persecution”
III) Christianity and Empire
Constantine (r. 306-337)
Successor to Diocletian
Internal fighting
Battle of Milvian Bridge
Vision
Constantine (r. 306-337)
Victory at Milvian Bridge
Edict of Milan (313 AD)
Constantine’s conversion (?)