Historical Background

Origins – Greek city-state, A.D. 324 Roman Empire shifts capital to Constantinople Marks the beginning of the Byzantine Empire

Early Period A.D. 324 – A.D. 730 Fall of Roman Empire in the West Justinian Iconoclastic Controversy

Middle Period A.D. 843 – A.D. 1261 End of Iconoclastic Controversy Crusaders sack Constantinople in A.D. 1204

Late Period A. D. 1261 - 1453

Christians lived together in communities Elect leaders Leaders eventually chosen by existing church

leaders

Diocletian – divided empire into dioceses for administrative purposes Bishop – Center of authority –

Many bishops were former Roman gov’t. officials – very good administrators

Emperors support church Church helps maintain order and unity for

the emperors Result: interconnection of the Empire and

the Christian Church

Church played different role in Byzantine East and Germanic-dominated West.

Lack of unity: Germanic invasions prevented church from unifying West and East

Bishops of Rome asked emperors in Constantinople for military support, but emperor could rarely send them

Important difference: Church in the West relies less on the emperor – begins to take over political authority Taxes, troops, laws

Bishop in West has no competitor for power

Roman bishops emphasized their “special” role Successors to Peter

Bishop of Rome becomes known as the pope – Latin papa – “father” Began to stress importance over others

In the East, bishops of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Constantinople had more power than other bishops BUT emperor’s authority over the church was acknowledged

Emperor nominated a patriarch – highest position in the Eastern church.

Religion viewed as a branch of the state

East vs. West

East:

West:

During the Roman Empire, disputes within the church created: Heresy – denial of a basic doctrine of faith Canon law – laws and procedures that

governed church matters Allows for immense growth of the church

Icons – images or representations of God, Jesus, Mary, or saints in a painting, bas-relief, or mosaic Began as a practice in private homes,

eventually the images started to appear in the Church

Prayer had to be directed to God Some felt icons helped people worship Some felt icons were actually the ones

being worshipped (idolatry) and wanted them destroyed – Iconoclasts

A.D. 730 emperor Leo III in Constantinople ordered the destruction of the images throughout the empire

Entire provinces revolted – empire and Roman papacy severed relations completely

Constantine V seized the property of monasteries that did not cooperate, executed monks or forced them to join the army

Use of icons restored in A.D. 843 – no sculptures

Implications Did the emperor have the right to interfere in

church affairs? The pope looked at an alliance with the

Frankish monarchy Fostered further division between the two

Christian churches. A.D. 1054 – The pope in Rome and the patriarch

in Constantinople excommunicated each other from the church – Schism

Christianity splits with Judaic and Islamic tradition

Like Buddhism, Christianity developed an ascetic component

Some felt that the only way to avoid the decadence of urban life was complete separation from the world. Eremetical (isolated) Coenobitic (communal)

Church encouraged communal living to teach and promote charity, poverty, and freedom from self-deception

A.D. 529 Benedict of Nursia writes Rule, a set of regulations for communal monasteries. Later known as The Rule of Saint Benedict –

influences all aspects of organized religious life in the Roman church.

Regular clergy vs. secular clergy Regular = those living in monasteries Secular = Bishops/priests that staffed

churches Not cut off from society

Monastic life of regularity, discipline, and moderation in an atmosphere of silence

Popularity Balance between asceticism and activity Commercially successful Schools for young children