PowerPoint Presentation

Twilight of Empire

New Divisions

ConstantinopleMilanAugustine Born in Thagaste

Converts to Manichaeism (a Gnostic-like sect)

Augustines PrayerLord, make me chaste

but not yet Augustines Conversion

An influential mentor: Ambrose of Milan

A garden experience: Tolle Lege!

PelagiusA British Monk

Worried about Christian Morals

Pelagius MessageWe are not forced to do evil through a fault of our nature. In fact, we do neither good nor evil without the exercise of our will; we always have the freedom to do one of the two.-Pelagius

Augustines Response Original Sin Humans are inherently flawed and cannot choose the Good on their own.

Predestination God must therefore give humans the grace to turn to him. He does not give this grace to everyone.

410: Alaric sacks Rome

Reactions to Romes FallWhy is this happening?

Who should we blame?

How can we recover?

The City of GodTwo cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, the heavenly by the love of God.

Fall of the Western Empire

AD 476Two CaveatsThe East Survives: The Byzantine Empire

An Arian Missionary: Ufilias

Rise of the Roman Bishops

Guardians of CivilizationThe Roman bishops are the only link to the old Empire and the Catholic faith it professed. Rise of a New OrderThe Roman bishops begin to convert their Arian overlords, beginning with the Franks.

Successor States

VandalsEastern EmpireVisigothsOstrogothsFranksSuevesSaxonsBurgundians

A Holy Roman Empire

Charlemagne: After conquering most of western Europe, Frankish king Charlemagne elects to be crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III.