Moving toward Christianity

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Moving toward Christianity
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What we inherited from the Greeks

• Good at Math, arts and sculpture
• Great dramatists
• Great thinkers including Socrates, Plato and
  Aristotle
• Athens the birthplace of democracy

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Alexander the Great and the Hellenized World

• The spreading of Greek cultures is called
  Hellenicreferring to Helen of Troy
• Combined with other culturesit was a dynamic
  force in ancient civilization
• Greek culture influenced Egypt, Persia, the
  Middle East
• Learning was spread like butter on a piece of
  toastall with echoes of Greece
• Though Alexander died young, he remains the
  Great because he brought his culture to so many.

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Library at Alexandria

• May have been destroyed by Julius Caesar
• One of the great mysteries
• Regardless, many great masterpieces lost we only
  know them by name

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The Romans

• Conquered Greece
• Spoke Latin (we use the Latin alphabet today)
• Good at governing/empire building
• Great at Civic organization roads, aqueducts,
  stadiums.
• Rome favored LAW over individuality

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Christianity

• Cannot be overemphasized enough
• Could be the most important event in human
  history
• The New Testament philosophy remains unique among
  world religions
• No other world religion has produced the highs
  and lows that Christianity has

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Blessed are the Peacemakers

• For they shall inherit the earth
• Persecuted for Righteousness sake
• Are to forgive seventy times seventy

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Christianitys appeal

• Brought Hope

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Appealed to women and slaves
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Explored the soulspiritual beauty over physical
beauty
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Christians worked to relieve suffering of others

• They protested against slaves, gladiators
• Believed in sacrifice and compassion

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Humility over Pride
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Overcame human sacrifice, violence, magic,
fortune telling
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One God over many
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We are a Judeo-Christian Society

• Christianity and Judaism share the old testament
• The Jews were persecuted for hundreds of years
• Many evil deeds have been committed in the name
  of Christianity

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Pressures on the Roman Empire

• Overextended empire
• Weak Emperors
• Moral Decay
• Lines blur between Rome and the barbarians
• Pressure from Celts (Wales), Scotts (England),
  Germanic Tribes
• What a mess!

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Atilla the Hun sacks Rome in 450

• Remains a legenddies after a night of hard
  drinking

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Tried to keep out Barbarianslittle success
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St Augustine 420 a.d.

• Heavenly City
• City of God and Heaven
• Represented Perfect Government
• Reality a struggle between popes and kings

• Earthly City
• City of Man, state and empire
• An imperfect government could be criticized
• Reality fighting, wars, greed

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RESULTS OF AUGUSTINE

• NO CAESAROPAPISMthe beginning of separation of
  church and state.

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Byzantine Empire

• The King/Pope moves to Constantinople in 330 to
  escape Barbarian invasions
• Rule as Christians but with Greek traditions

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Christian world finally divided in 1054Roman
Catholic vs. Orthodox
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The Arabic World

• Emerges in 700 as powerful unifier of desert
  tribes
• Honors Old Testament and Jesus
• Considers Jerusalem a sacred city
• Expanded into Spainstays there until 1492
• Almost conquered Europe in 732

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Battle of Tours, A.D. 732

• Saves Europe for Christianity and stops the
  Muslim invasions. One of the most important
  battles in World History

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Charles Martel was the Grandfather of Charlemagne
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Last, and the LeastLatin Christendom

• Government is splintering
• Chaos and anarchy
• Rome now de-centralizesback to tribes
• Tribes self govern with Trial by combat
• No money, reverts to barter system
• Neglect of roads

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The Dark Ages Descend into Europe

• Lawlessness takes over the vacuum left by Roman
  order
• Attacks make it difficult to plant and harvest
  crops
• Similar to Gang warfare
• Butmany within the tribe are free and they
  cobble together some form of tribal government

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Many Legend arise from this time, including King
Arthur
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Western Europe needs help

• Even Conan cant help!

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Neither can President Bush
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The Christian Church to the rescue

• Missionaries sent to convert heathens
• Letters are written for support
• Monasteries in isolated places copy bibles and
  other ancient books
• The Church looks to the Bishop of Rome
• The East falls under the influence of the Emperor
• The West remains independent from the state

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Charlemagne

• Grandson of Charles Martel, who defeated the
  Muslims at Tours in 732.
• Crowned in Rome on Christmas Day, A.D. 800
• Learning revives before another wave of Barbarian
  Invasions.

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Charlemagne gains territory from Muslims in Spain
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Revives trade and commerce
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Restores order in Italykicks out pockets of
Muslims
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Promotes Education and Literacy
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Charlemagnes successes do not last

• Divides his kingdom
• Eventually weakens under second wave of invasions

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Second Wave of Barbarian Invasions
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Attacks on Monasteries
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During the Dark Ages and Feudal times

• Men gave up freedom for safety

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The Feudal System

• An intricate system of local government because
  there is no national government
• A pyramid of interdependence that is complex
• It depends on everyone knowing their place
• Very rigidbut appropriate for the time

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Counts or Lords

• Vassals are lesser Lords
• The will fight for the Lord
• The Lord kept peace and order
• Kings were elected, then became heriditary

• England developed more centralized feudalism
• Central government became more powerful
• More peace and security in England

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Peasants

• Skilled peasants
• Bakers
• Blacksmith
• Glass makers
• Carpenters
• Metal workers
• Craftsmen

• Laboring peasants
• Lived near manors
• Werent required to fight except self-defense
• Worked hard, but had many festival days
• Very poor