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Christianity in Late Antiquity/Early Middle Ages

Christianity in Late Antiquity/Early Middle Ages. Western Civilization Ms. Tully. The Middle Ages. Western history divided up into roughly 3 eras: 1. Ancient/classical era (aka. Antiquity) 2. The Middle Ages 3. Modern era. The Middle Ages. Middle Ages: 5 th – 15 th century

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Christianity in Late Antiquity/Early Middle Ages

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  1. Christianity in Late Antiquity/Early Middle Ages Western Civilization Ms. Tully

  2. The Middle Ages • Western history divided up into roughly 3 eras: • 1. Ancient/classical era (aka. Antiquity) • 2. The Middle Ages • 3. Modern era

  3. The Middle Ages • Middle Ages: 5th – 15th century • Early Middle Ages: 5th cent. (fall of Rome)  1000 CE • High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1300 CE • Late Middle Ages: 1300 – 1500 CE

  4. Church/State Relations • after fall of Western Roman Empire, 2 sources of continuity: • Eastern RE/Byzantine Empire • Christian church • worked closely together in 4th-5th centuries

  5. Church/State Relations • 312 CE: Constantine makes Christianity legal, encouraged • no Roman taxes for clergy • made Sunday a public holiday, day of rest • built Christian churches, Lateran Palace (Pope’s home until 14th cent.)

  6. Lateran Palace

  7. Lateran Palace

  8. Church/State Relations • 380 CE: emperor Theodosius makes Christianity official religion of empire • practicing old Roman religion = treason! • allowed church to make own courts for clergy/religious issues (canon law) • ***church becoming independent, powerful political entity***

  9. Church/State Relations Get Nasty • political tension between church and state • Theodosius orders Bishop Ambrose of Milan to hand over cathedral to empire

  10. Bishop Ambrose’s Response • At length came the command, “Deliver up the basilica”; I reply, “It is not lawful for us to deliver it up, nor for your Majesty to receive it. By no law can you violate the house of a private man, and do you think that the house of God may be taken away? … But do not burden your conscience with the thought that you have any right as Emperor over sacred things … It is written, God’s to God and Caesar’s to Caesar. The palace is the Emperor’s, the churches are the Bishop’s. To you is committed jurisdiction over public, not over sacred buildings.

  11. Bishop Ambrose, cont. • Statement served as cornerstone of Christian theory of civil-ecclesiastical relations for centuries • Church independent of state jurisdiction • Bishops judge of emperors • Church ultimately the superior power • Orthodox church (Byzantine) less independent of secular control than Western church

  12. Church/State Relations • empire becoming a Christian society • church ultimately more powerful entity, because everyone (even the emperor) answers to God

  13. Organization of Church • Church filled power vacuum after fall of Rome • Diocletian (284-305) divided empire into “dioceses” for administrative purposes • Bishops est. headquarters in dioceses • Central of authority = cathedral (Latin cathedra) • Bishop of Rome = Pope (Latin papa) • Church leaders capitalized on Roman imperial method of organization and adapted it to ecclesiastical purposes

  14. Monasticism • Rejected immorality of society – first real nonconformists • Began in Egypt in 3rd century • Individuals and small groups withdrew from city • Eremitical life – hermitism • Hidden life • Coenobitic monasticism • Communal living in monasteries

  15. St. Benedict • Benedict of Nursia (480-543) established regulations for monks – The Rule of St. Benedict • Influenced all forms of religious life in Roman church • Regularity, discipline, moderation, silence • Balance between asceticism and activity • Became dominant form of Western monasticism

  16. Christianity & Classical Culture • Hard-lined piety • “The wisdom of the world is foolishness, we preach Christ crucified.” – St. Paul • “We have no need for curiosity since Jesus Christ, nor for inquiry since the gospel.” – Tertullian • Others argued acceptance of Greco-Roman (pagan) culture • Result = compromise • The best ancient literature should be interpreted in light of the Christian faith

  17. Christian Notions of Gender and Sexuality • Jesus was a feminist! • Believed women equal to men – no disreputable qualities, not inferior • Women some of Jesus’ earliest and most faithful converts • Active role in early spread of Christianity • “Virgins in the service of Christ” • Worried Roman officials

  18. Paul’s Influence • Forbad women to preach, hold offices in church • Saw celibacy as superior to marriage • Jewish and classical Mediterranean culture viewed female subordination as natural and proper • Superiority of celibacy • Mind superior to body • Self-denial led to misogyny • Women and female sexuality chief obstacles to preferred existence • Same-sex relations esp. evil/unnatural

  19. The church fathers’ misogyny and hostility toward sexuality had a greater influence on the formation of later attitudes than did the relatively egalitarian actions and words of Jesus.

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