Age of the Christian Roman Empire I

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Age of the Christian Roman Empire I
OK, Maybe Not

• How Keanu Reeves changed the church forever

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Age of the Christian Roman Empire I

• Constantine
• The Best and Worst thing ever to Happen to
  Christianity

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AKA Caius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Claudius
Constantius Magnus
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End of Galerius

• Ewwwww
• Edict of Toleration 311
• Empire split between Maxentius, Maximian and
  Constantine

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Constantines Early Life

• Son of Co-Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Helena
• Served under Diocletian during the Egyptian and
  Persian Wars
• Returned to father in Gaul to become Emperor

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Constantines Conquest

• Maximian Herculius father of Maxentius
• Galerius Dies
• Maxentius now Co Emperor with Constantine
• Battle of Milvian Bridge

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Tuto Nike Hoc VinceConstantines Vision

• Actual Appearance
• Pious Fraud
• Illusion
• There are no miracles, just pretty clouds
• Dream

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Constantine Wins
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Yay!
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Effects of Constantine Winning

• Edict of Toleration with Co-Regent Licinius
• Christian clergy exempt from military/municipal
  duty
• Abolished offensive pagan customs
• Emancipation of Christian slaves
• Legalized bequests to catholic churches
• Sunday -gt dies Solis (day of the Sun)
• Contributed to the building of Churches

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Bad Constantine

• Warred against his brother in law Licinius
  defeating him in 324
• Violates promise of mercy and executes Licinius
  and 11 year old son Licinius
• Executes Crispus his eldest son for treason as
  well as committing incest with Fausta
  (Constantines Wife)

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Move to Byzantium 330AD

• Byzantium is renamed Constantinople
• Many Churches built
• Idols eliminated (modified)
• 60 ft. Statue ApollosChristConstantine

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End of Constantine

• Deathbed baptism, performed by the semi-Arian
  bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia
• Baptized declaring Now let us cast away all
  duplicity
• Wore only baptism robes until death a few days
  later, on Pentecost, May, 22, 337

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Saint Helena

• Daughter of an Innkeeper (maybe)
• Concubine of Constantius
• Mother of Constantine
• Found the True Cross
• Built Churches in Jerusalem

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Post Constantine

• Empire is Divided between his 3 sons Constantine
  II, Constans, and Constantius
• Not very christian boys
• Constans killed Con II, then was in turn killed
  by the barbarian Magnetius
• Constantius defeated Magnetius who then committed
  suicide and became the sole Emperor of the Rome.
  A weak ruler who died a natural death.

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Julian the Apostate 361-363

• Nephew of Constantine
• Last hurrah for Paganism
• Persecuted Christians non-violently
• Stoic and Virtuous by Roman standards
• Sought to christianize Paganism
• Schools run by Pagans
• Nice to Jews, tried and failed to rebuild the
  Temple

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Theodosius the Great 392-395

• The true beginning of the Christianized Emperors
• Chastised by Ambrose for massacre
• Initiated the final suppression of Paganism
• 391 banned under heavy fine the visiting of Pagan
  temples for religious purposes
• Without state support of approval Paganism
  collapsed as a system

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Positive Effects of the Christianized Roman Empire

1. Increased respect for women
2. Better treatment of slaves/freedom for Christian
   slaves
3. Gladiator games slowed if not stopped
4. More justice in Roman legislation
5. Missionary work accelerated

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Negative Effects of the Christianized Roman Empire

1. Pseudo-Conversion to maintain power
2. Interference of government with Church affairs
3. Weakening of the faith
4. Persecution of Pagans/Heretics

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