Arguably, each of these three civilizations could claim the mantle of the Roman Empire. In your view, which one has the strongest claim to carrying forward the legacies of the classical past?
The three civilizations that came after Rome, the Byzantines, Islam, and Northwestern Rome, were uniquely related to Rome in their own ways. The author of Western Civilizations tells that Byzantium had a stronger focus on legal and political institutions, Islam continued the trade and cultural exchange that Rome had started, and Northwestern Europe associated itself with Rome in that it carried the Latin language, the city of Rome, and its Christian patriarchy. So the question in order is which of these criteria more embodied the nation of Rome and its values as a whole.
In my view, Rome is better defined, out of these characteristics, by the values of Northwest Europe. The city of Rome was the headquarters and origin of Rome itself so the fact that Northwest Europe identified with the city of Rome shows their connection to the true base of Rome. However, what distinguishes Northwest Rome as more Roman than the others is its connection to the Christian Patriarchal system. This was a system that came about with the emergence of Christianity in Rome during the time of Constantinople. Rome instituted many political reforms because of Christianity, so it became an integrated part of their government. So, since Northwest Europe had this Christian Patriarchal system, it gives their government a distinguishing characteristic that Rome had and other civilizations did not.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Rome's Three Heirs
Byzantine culture was distinctive in many ways. what are some of its important features?
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Byzantine culture was its stability in structure. The capital city, Constantinople, was lead in its social life by well educated people who ensured the prospering of the schools, the church, and sports (like chariot racing). It was also stable in its economy. Byzantium became a huge center for trading from the east and west, and it also had its own industries like silk weaving. This allowed the nation to prosper and flourish and ultimately stay alive for nearly a thousand years (pg. 215). Another aspect of Byzantine culture that distinguished it from others was its religious orthodoxy. They had spent much time studying religious doctrine, and they also took very seriously their religious images and their meanings. This is where the "Iconoclast" controversy came from (pg. 216-217). And finally, a defining characteristic of Byzantine culture was their architecture. One of the greatest architectural achievements in Byzantium was the "Hagia Sophia". This was an enormous monument that reflected the "artistry, engineering skill, and spirituality of Byzantium." This building defined what Byzantine architecture would look like, and it remains a marvel to look at to this day.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Byzantine culture was its stability in structure. The capital city, Constantinople, was lead in its social life by well educated people who ensured the prospering of the schools, the church, and sports (like chariot racing). It was also stable in its economy. Byzantium became a huge center for trading from the east and west, and it also had its own industries like silk weaving. This allowed the nation to prosper and flourish and ultimately stay alive for nearly a thousand years (pg. 215). Another aspect of Byzantine culture that distinguished it from others was its religious orthodoxy. They had spent much time studying religious doctrine, and they also took very seriously their religious images and their meanings. This is where the "Iconoclast" controversy came from (pg. 216-217). And finally, a defining characteristic of Byzantine culture was their architecture. One of the greatest architectural achievements in Byzantium was the "Hagia Sophia". This was an enormous monument that reflected the "artistry, engineering skill, and spirituality of Byzantium." This building defined what Byzantine architecture would look like, and it remains a marvel to look at to this day.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
To what extent did Christianity alter the traditional values and infrastructure of the Roman state? Were these alterations inevitable?
Christianity began to alter the traditional values and infrastructure of the Roman state when Constantine announced his "Edict of Milan." This is an edict that granted freedom of religion in all of Rome. One of the main differences Christianity made in Roman infrastructure was it created a hierarchy of positions in the government. We see on page 195 of Western Civilizations that the major cities were now required to have a bishop that governed the churches in that area. We also see that there had to be a religious capital of the nation, and this ended up being the city of Rome. Not only did Christianity affect the infrastructure of Rome, but it affected its values as well. One of these value changes was the value of women in society. On page 196 of Western Civilizations, we see that women used to have power in the religious hierarchy, however, with the emergence of Christianity, women did not have power like before. Women were priestesses, and leaders of churches, but now since Christianity became like imperial Rome, it had to "replicate the structures of governance that had been the province of men..." Christianity changed how Rome worked and thought, but the issue still remains if this change was inevitable.
I think that these changes that Christianity made were not inevitable. As said before, most of the expansion of Christianity (the emergence of political hierarchy, and shifted values) was due to Constantine's allowing freedom of religion. However, Constantine's edict was not expected at all. On page 193 of Western Civilizations we see that Constantine originally associated himself with the cult of Sol for political reasons, but right before he marched on Rome, he supposedly had a vision that converted him to conquer Rome in the name of Christ. This is why Christianity become developed and started to change the structure of Rome, and this was an unforeseen event, so I think that these alterations were not inevitable.
Christianity began to alter the traditional values and infrastructure of the Roman state when Constantine announced his "Edict of Milan." This is an edict that granted freedom of religion in all of Rome. One of the main differences Christianity made in Roman infrastructure was it created a hierarchy of positions in the government. We see on page 195 of Western Civilizations that the major cities were now required to have a bishop that governed the churches in that area. We also see that there had to be a religious capital of the nation, and this ended up being the city of Rome. Not only did Christianity affect the infrastructure of Rome, but it affected its values as well. One of these value changes was the value of women in society. On page 196 of Western Civilizations, we see that women used to have power in the religious hierarchy, however, with the emergence of Christianity, women did not have power like before. Women were priestesses, and leaders of churches, but now since Christianity became like imperial Rome, it had to "replicate the structures of governance that had been the province of men..." Christianity changed how Rome worked and thought, but the issue still remains if this change was inevitable.
I think that these changes that Christianity made were not inevitable. As said before, most of the expansion of Christianity (the emergence of political hierarchy, and shifted values) was due to Constantine's allowing freedom of religion. However, Constantine's edict was not expected at all. On page 193 of Western Civilizations we see that Constantine originally associated himself with the cult of Sol for political reasons, but right before he marched on Rome, he supposedly had a vision that converted him to conquer Rome in the name of Christ. This is why Christianity become developed and started to change the structure of Rome, and this was an unforeseen event, so I think that these alterations were not inevitable.
Friday, July 1, 2016
Ancient Civilizations Chapter 6 Reviewing Objectives
- Christianity's acceptance as a legal religion changed it in profound ways. Why was this?
Christianity's acceptance as a legal religion came when Constantine announced the Edict of Milan. This allowed freedom of religion to all citizens of Rome, however Constantine preferred the Christian religion, so Christians got special treatment and benefits. Now that Christianity could be practiced publicly, the different communities of Christians realized that there were differences in what they were practicing. They needed to unite, compile their beliefs and scriptures into one religion, and set up a chain of command. The church set up bishops who governed the churches of the city, and they had to set up a capital city of the Church. All of this led to the Council of Nicea where church leaders met and discussed the discrepancies of the different beliefs in Christianity. In short, Christianity was changed in profound ways because, now that it was public, people could gather and unify their beliefs of Christianity to set up one official religion and hierarchy for the Christian religion. The author of Western Civilizations describes Christianity as going "From Illegal Sect to Imperial Institution" (pg. 193)
Christianity's acceptance as a legal religion came when Constantine announced the Edict of Milan. This allowed freedom of religion to all citizens of Rome, however Constantine preferred the Christian religion, so Christians got special treatment and benefits. Now that Christianity could be practiced publicly, the different communities of Christians realized that there were differences in what they were practicing. They needed to unite, compile their beliefs and scriptures into one religion, and set up a chain of command. The church set up bishops who governed the churches of the city, and they had to set up a capital city of the Church. All of this led to the Council of Nicea where church leaders met and discussed the discrepancies of the different beliefs in Christianity. In short, Christianity was changed in profound ways because, now that it was public, people could gather and unify their beliefs of Christianity to set up one official religion and hierarchy for the Christian religion. The author of Western Civilizations describes Christianity as going "From Illegal Sect to Imperial Institution" (pg. 193)
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