HIST107 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture Introduction to Medieval History Outline of Current Lecture The Early Roman Empire Shifting religious views in the Empire A The spread of Christianity Emperor Diocletian A The Great Persecution of Christians Emperor Constantine Current Lecture A Christianized Empire Required Reading Edict of Milan Roman Empire Encompassed the entire Mediterranean world Driven by cities and trade Dominant languages Latin and Greek Emperors Imperators ruled the Roman Empire Augustus was the 1st Roman Emperor Emperors lead the army formed laws and bound the empire together They were figures of great authority Emperors also held the role of Chief Priest Pontifex Maximus in which they served as mediators to connect heaven to earth and to appease gods They restored temples and gave gifts to religious groups made sacrifices for the public and attempted to maintain order Provinces started to play an increasingly important role in the Roman Empire For example the spread of Christianity occurred gradually in various provinces but was temporarily halted by the Great Persecution see below A lot of the ideas of Jesus and the roles he held were new to average Roman citizens Christians were largely ignored in the Roman Empire at first and were occasionally persecuted for a lack of precipitation in religious rituals involving the emperor they were perceived as defying the sacrificial tendencies of the Roman Empire Christianity gradually spread to surround the Roman Empire The crisis of the third century involved a series of invasions civil strife assassinations and an unstable political system throughout the Roman Empire At the close of third century Emperor Diocletian claimed to be a god divine figure calmed the crisis ended the period of turmoil and restored general order to the Roman Empire Administrative reforms were put in place such as a division through the Empire into West and East He insisted on one religious worship in the Roman World He was responsible for the Great Persecution of Christians church property was confiscated the religion was not recognized people were imprisoned and or executed Diocletian retired in 305 and a fight breaks out for determining the new Emperor Battle at Milvian Bridge Constantine wins and is acknowledged as Emperor of West and Licinious becomes Emperor of East Constantine started to become a Christian after attributing his victory to the Christian god he then started to openly support and recognize Christians primarily through the creation of the Edict of Milan Constantine is baptized on his death bed and after that point every emperor except one was Christian
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