The Making of Europe

1
The Making of Europe

• Chapter 7

2
Romes Transformation

• Romes Transformation and the Beginnings of
  Europe
• After 180 C.E., Romes power began to decline
• Internal and external pressures
• Attempt to realign empire

3
Internal Upheavals and Invading Barbarians

• Split between east and west
• Barracks Emperors
• Ordinary citizens bystanders
• Gained time - maneuvering tribes against each
  other

4
Christianity

• Jesus of Nazareth
• Hellenistic religions became popular during last
  century B.C.E.
• Christian cult spread slowly spread in Judea
• Spread - Saul of Tarsus and fanatical element
  among the Jews
• Mediterranean basin among ex-Jews and Gentiles
• Jewish War
• Diaspora

5
Appeal of Christianity

• Universality
• Hope and optimism
• Spirit of mutuality
• Appeal to idealism
• Gospels original doctrinal foundation

6
Christianitys Spread and Official Adoption

• By early 4th century, 10 of east and 5 of west
  Christian
• Edict of Milan
• In 381, Christianity became official religion of
  empire
• Constantine tried to create new unity between
  governors and governed
• Linked church and state

7
Early Church Organization and Doctrine

• Roman civil models
• Several bishops claimed direct descent from
  apostles
• Petrine Succession
• Many early disputes in theology
• Council of bishops
• Establishment of close ties between civil and
  religious authorities

8
Spread of Christianity
9
Council of Nicea

• Christianity regarded by some as mix of
  superstition and cannibalism
• Arianism Arius priest Alexandria
• Nicene Creed
• Gave empire new code of ethics and morals

10
Synthesis

• Augustine of Hippo St. Augustine
• The Confessions -
• Blends Greco-Roman world and Christian thought
• City of God
• Monasticism - West and East
• Coenobitic monasticism
• Rule of St. Benedict
• Differences

11
Germanic Invaders

• Western provinces eventually came under their
  control
• Began to create new kingdoms in the conquered
  western areas
• Franks
• Saxons
• Angles
• Vandals
• Visigoths
• Ostrogoths
• By 500s, western empire had been destroyed

12
Germanic Customs and Society

• Blend two cultures into medieval culture - 200
  years
• Converted to Christianity between 450 and 1100
• Method of conversion similar
• Converted for political, economic, and Christian
  law
• German law - customs
• Objective - prevent anything that would hurt
  tribe
• Wergeld

13
Manors

• Invading leaders took over existing elements of
  government
• As cities and towns declined simply moved into
  these manors
• Dark Ages of Europe 500 - 800
• Rise of immorality among church officials
• Christian church only Roman institution that
  survived

14
The Byzantine Empire

• Eastern half of old Roman empire
• Emperor as dominant figure in church and in state
• Justinian
• Hagia Sophia
• Outstanding achievement - Christianize eastern
  Europe
• Corpus Juris Civilis

15
The Byzantine Empire in the Time of Justinian
16
Split Again

• Icons images of saints and holy family
• Worshipping the image?
• Iconoclasts
• Removed and revolt
• Iconoclastic controversy
• Role of emperor
• Influence shift
• Roman and Greek - 1054

17
Summary

• Rome declined
• Internal problems
• External threat
• Rise of Christianity
• Jews to Gentiles
• Persecution to official religion
• Roman Empire conducive