The Christian Culture Christianitas And Barbarian Cultures Germanitas Essay

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The Transitions of Roman Culture (Romanitas) As It Interacted with Christian Culture (Christianitas) And Barbarian Cultures (Germanitas)

Christianity in late antiquity runs from the Christian Roman Empire when Christianity rose under the Emperor Constantine (c. 313) up to the end of the Western Roman Empire (c. 476). The sub-Roman period transition was gradual and occurred at varying times in different places. Therefore, the exact time the period ended is varied. The late ancient Christianity lasted up to the end of the 6th century. On the other hand, Justinian conquests of the Byzantine Empire occurred between 527 and 565. However, in 476, it ended when the last emperor, Romulus Augustus died. Christianity spread from the Roman Judaea without any endorsement or state support. It became Armenia’s state religion in 301 or 314, Georgia in 337 and Ethiopia 325.the The Thessalonica Edict saw it develop into the Roman Empire’s state religion in 380

The Roman Empire persecuted Christians between the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, under the 313 AD Milan Edict and Nero. Licinius and Constantine the Great made Christianity legal in Rome. The state and local government authority were responsible for ad hoc Christians’ persecution in Rome. Persecution of Christians throughout the empire began in 250 AD. It was an indirect impact of Decius, the emperor. The edict had been used for up to eighteen months. During that time, Christians were persecuted and killed while others escaped execution or apostatized. Christianity development and growth were heavily influenced during that time, redefining the theology of Christians, including the early Church structure. The outcome of persecution involved defenses and explanation of Christianity. According to Suetonius:

“Next to the immortal Gods he honoured the memory of the leaders who had raised the estate of the Roman people from obscurity to greatness. . . .

“He always shrank from the title of Lord as reproachful and insulting. When the words ‘O just and gracious Lord!’ were uttered in a farce at which he was a spectator and all the people sprang to their feet and applauded as if they were said of him, he at once checked their unseemly flattery by look and gesture, and on the following day sharply reproved them in an edict.

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“The whole body of citizens with a sudden unanimous impulse proffered him the title of Father of his Country . . .” (Suetonius on Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD)).

Licinius legalized Christian worship in 313 when he issued the Milan Edict. He solved a dispute about the controversy of the Donatist in North Africa. He summoned the Nicaea Council to solve the controversy of the Arian and issue the Creed of Nicene. The Creed confirmed a belief in the beginning of Christendom, “One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.” The rule of Constantine developed a foundation for the Christian Emperor position in the Church. Emperors believed they were responsible to God and their people’s spiritual health. They also saw the need to support and maintain orthodoxy.

However, Constantine did not completely unite Christianity in the Roman Empire. Constantius II, his successor, kept Arian bishops at his court because he was an Arian. He sent orthodox bishops away. Julian (Julian the Apostate), his successor and a philosopher, renounced Christianity for Neo-platonic and mystical paganism form when he became emperor. He altered old pagan beliefs to mimic Christian traditions such as public charity and the episcopal structure, previously unknown to Roman pagans. He got rid of all the prestige and privileges the Christian Church was accorded to re-establish old pagan belief prestige. He accepted previously exiled Christian bishops to take the role of heretics, re-opened pagan temples, promoted Judaism and returned land the Church owned to its previous owners to develop religious heterogeneity. However, his reigned ceased when he died in the East while campaigning.

The political boundaries of the Roman Empire diminished and collapsed in the west, but Christianity continued to grow and spread beyond the Empire’s old borders into lands the Romans never owned. The Western Roman Empire collapsed gradually between the 4th and 5th centuries. The “barbarian” kingdoms took over. They saw themselves as….....

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Work Cited

Eusebius, Oration on Constantine XVI, PNF Ser. 2, vol. 1, pp. 606-07. Translation revised.

The History of the Franks, by Gregory of Tours. Book 2.

The Roman biographer Suetonius on Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD). From Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars. The Life of Augustus.

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