Title: Chapter 9: Late Roman Empire, Judaism, and the Rise of Christianity
1Chapter 9 Late Roman Empire, Judaism, and the
Rise of Christianity
21. Outline
- Late Roman empire
- Moral decline and cultural relativism
- Historical overview
- Rise of Christianity
- the elements of Christianity
- the rise of Christianity
3Evaluate these statements
- 1. Christianity triumphed because of its moral
superiority over the pagan values of the decadent
Roman empire. - 2. With the arrival of Christianity the pursuit
of reason (science, philosophy) and the freedoms
typical of a secular society (freedom of thought
and speech, pleasures of life, admiration for the
human body) gave way to the (irrational) promise
of messianic deliverance and eternal life.
4Moral decline and the Late Roman Empire
- Moral decline
- The moral decline of Rome is denounced by Roman
writers as early as the 3rd century BCE. - Examples Julius Caesar, Sallust, Livy, Augustus
moral legislation - It is a constant topic in every culture.
- It is retrospective and frequently used to
justify the need of reform or the moral
superiority of the reformer.
5How depraved were the Romans of Late Imperial
times?
- Staunch moralists Seneca
- Unsurpassed physicians Galen
- Wise emperors Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian.
- Foreign emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Diocletian.
- Urbanism, architecture and civil administration.
6Moral decline and the Late Roman Empire
7Moral decline and the Late Roman Empire
- City of Thamugadi, Algeria
- Volubilis (Morocco), Roman mosaic.
82. Historical overview
- Christianity arises in the Roman province of
Judea in the first century AD. - At first Christianity appears as a reform of
Judaism followers are Jews. - Over the course of the 1st century Christianity
becomes open to non-Jews.
92. Historical Overview
- Diocletian divides the empire (284-305)
- Eastern Roman empire Byzantium
- Western Roman empire Rome
- He persecutes Christians (303 CE)
102. Historical Overview
- Constantine (315-330 CE) converts to
Christianity (Constantinople). - Theodosius (379-395 CE) closes all the pagan
cults and outlaws the practice of other
religions - Concludes the celebration of the Olympic games
- Closes the oracle of Delphi
- Extinguishes the sacred fire of the Vestal
Virgins in Rome.
113. Origins of Christianity
- Christianity coexists with and is informed by
other monotheistic and salvation religions - Judaism
- Mystery cults
- Lets explore the religious atmosphere
surrounding the rise of Christianity.
124. Christianity and Judaism
- Monotheism
- God who speaks through sacred texts
- Insistence on moral behavior (ethical monotheism)
- Messiah (divine savior)
- Sabbath (Sunday), Passover (Easter)
- Dichotomies good/evil
134. Christianity and mystery religions
- A dying and reborn god.
- Promise of immortality through sacrifice of a
savior Osiris, Dionysus, Orpheus, Mithra
(Sunday, Dec, 25th) - Dichotomies body/ soul, sin/reward, good/evil
- Rituals of initiation baptism, communal meal
- Isis, Cybele (mother goddesses) Virgin Mary
- Worship of an intercessor in the final judgment
Dionysus, Isis, Mithra.
145. The rise of Christianity
- Christianity arises among other similar and
competing religions. - Why did it prevail over others?
155. The rise of Christianity
- Proselytism
- Infrastructure of the Roman empire
- Relative freedom from class distinctions
- Mutual aid to members
- Ideas of monotheism and salvation
- Assimilation of elements of Greek and Hellenistic
philosophy
- What does it mean?
- How and why did it help?
- To whom would this be appealing?
- Were monotheism and salvation popular ideas in
other religions? - How did this contribute to the consolidation of
Christianity?
165. The rise of Christianity
- Proselytism conscious effort to spread the faith
(Paul) - Infrastructure of the Roman empire easy
communications, common languages (Greek, Latin) - Relative freedom from class distinctions appeal
to women and slaves. - Greek and Hellenistic philosophy created the
theological pillars of Christianity making it
intelligible to educated minds.
175. The rise of Christianity
- A common religious landscape
- National identity is no longer defined in
religious terms (Athens/ Athena) - Preoccupation for individual salvation rather
than national prosperity. (Pharaoh fertility of
Egypt) - A common religious language
- Shared by mystery cults, Jewish sects and
Christianity immortality of the human soul,
divinity-intercessor in the final judgment,
rebirth, initiation, dogma, sin/ reward
186. Persecutions of Christians
- Was Christianity tolerated by the Roman emperors?
- Why were Christians persecuted?
- Were members of other religions persecuted too?
196. Persecutions of Christians
- Firstly Christians gained the enmity of Jews, who
considered them heretic. - They were perceived as a secretive and sectarian
group by the Roman establishment, because they
chose NOT to participate in the state politics or
religion. - They refused to worship the state gods and
therefore were perceived as a threat to civil
order.
206. Persecution of Jews
- Not only Christians but also Jews were persecuted
(destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, 70 CE).
217. Early Christian Art
- Clandestine and iconoclastic at first.
- Funerary art with subliminal messages of
salvation.
227. Early Christian Art
237. Early Christian Art
247. Early Christian Art
- Funerary art paintings in the catacombs and
sculpted sarcophagi.
257. Early Christian Art
- Catacombs of Saint Domitilla
2611. Early Christian Art
- It utilizes the forms of the Greco-Roman
tradition to convey religious meanings. - Highly symbolic.
2711. Early Christian Art
- Common motifs
- Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
- Leader of the flock and sacrificial lamb.
2811. Early Christian Art
- Common motifs
- scenes from the Old and New testaments
2911. Early Christian Art
3011. Early Christian Art
3112. Roman Architecture
- Last remainders of imperial monuments
- Arch of Constantine- last in tradition of Roman
triumphal monuments.
3213. Christian architecture
- Development of new Christian churches with the
support of the emperors. - Use of the basilica design
3313. Christian architecture