The Early Church100-790 CE

By: Sam Friess, Jack Wall, Tyler Martin, and Connor Ridley

Roman Empire

Created by Octavius son of Julius Caesar in 27 BCE

He changed his name to Augustus and the empire flourished until Constantine died in 337 CE and it spiraled down

Constantine was one of the last emperors

The Roman Empire ended in 410 CE from invasions, economic troubles, and pure chaos

Roman and Byzantine Empires

Constantine made the empire from Paganism to Christianity in 313

Constantine moved the capital city of Rome to Constantinople in Byzantium 324

Roman empire split into two empires after Constantine died: Roman and Byzantine

Western (Roman) had nothing so they fell from instability in all areas

Roman and Byzantine Empires

The Byzantine empire became the new “Rome” for the next about 500 years

Byzantine Empire fell in 1416 from Ottomans

Byzantine Map at its highest point

Justin MartyrAlso known as Saint Justin in C. 100 AD in Flavia Neopolis, Palestine (Modern-day Nebula) and Died in C. 165 AD in Rome

Parents were pagan

First attended a Stoic Philosophy school.

At first, he was drawn to Platonism until he met an old man in Ephesus who told him about Christianity and he converted.

He then moved to Rome where he started his own school

One of his most notable pupils was Tatian.

Death and Martyrdom

After disputing with the Cynic philosopher Crescens, he was reprimanded by Roman authorities and beheaded.

Ignatius Of Antioch

Born C. 35 AD and Died C. 108 AD in Rome

Saint Ignatius was the bishop of Antioch after Saint Peter died in around 69 AD.

Ignatius also called himself Theophorus which means “God Bearer”

One of the Apostolic Fathers

Believed he was also an disciple of the Apostle John.

Letters and MartyrdomWrote Several letters or epistles about his travels to Rome and his arrest.

Wrote six letters to churches in various regions and one to a fellow bishop.

Wrote to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philidelphians, Smyrnaeans, and Polycarp the bishop of Smyrna.

Was Martyred and sentenced to die in the coliseum by way of being eaten by lions.

Pictures

Augustine: Childhood

Augustine was born in 354, in Roman Africa.

His father was Pagan and his mother was Catholic.

Despite his origins he grew up among Latin people causing him to learn Latin.

When he was 11 he went to a school where he became familiar with Latin literature and pagan cultures, and beliefs.

Priesthood

In 395 he was made Bishop of Hippo, and remained it until his death.

Augustine worked tirelessly in trying to convince the people of Hippo to convert to Christianity, just as he did.

He left his monastery, but continued to lead a monastic life.

St. Benedict of Nursia: Childhood

Born in Nursia near Spoleto, Italy in 480 A.D

His family was of noble lineage

He had a sister named, Scholastica, who from childhood, vowed herself to God

She influenced St. Benedict of Nursia to live a very religious life from a young age

At the age of 14, he left Rome and lived in a cave near Subiaco

Western Monasticism

Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work

He is considered the founder of western monasticism

In the Christian tradition, males pursuing a monastic life are usually called monks

Nicea II

The Second Council of Nicaea is regarded as the Seventh Ecumenical Council by various Western Christian groups

It met in AD 787 in Nicea to restore the importance of icons, or holy images, which had been forgotten by Leo III who reigned over the Byzantine Empire

The most common topic of discussion for the Second Council of Nicea was about Iconoclasm

The reason of the meetings of the Second Council was to discuss what should be done about the destruction of icons

Iconoclastic Controversy

Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons for a religious motive

It is a major component for political or religious change

Iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire began with Emperor Leo III

Apart from the obvious religious problems, it created political and economic divisions in the society

The Second Council of Nicea was held in AD 787 to address the conflict of the growing iconoclasm that was prevalent in the Byzantine Empire

MOSAICS

Mosaics are small pieces or glass, stone, or tile to create many small pieces look like one larger image.

Catholic churches usually used stone or tile

Mosaics were floor mosaics, wall mosaics, or arch mosaics on the ceilings

MOSAICS

Books

The books were very decorative and had lots of gold

They also didn’t have any words on the front, just carvings almost

Roman Statues

Romans art in churches and in the cities were statues usually made of marble or some sort of stone or tile and were people usually

Bibliography

http://www.slidefinder.net/C/Christian_Visual_Art_100_600/27211491/p4

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm

http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/romans.html

http://roman-empire.net/