The Early Middle Ages, 284--1000

Yale, , Prof. Paul Freedman

Updated On 02 Feb, 19

Overview

Course Introduction: Rome's Greatness and First Crises - The Crisis of the Third Century and the Diocletianic Reforms - Constantine and the Early Church -The Christian Roman Empire - St. Augustine's Confessions - Transformation of the Roman Empire - Barbarian Kingdoms - survival in the East - The Reign of Justinian - Clovis and the Franks - Frankish Society - Britain and Ireland-Monasticism - Mohammed and the Arab Conquests - Islamic Conquests and Civil War - The Early Middle Ages, 284 -1000: The Splendor of the Abbasid Period - The Crucial - Seventh Century - The Splendor of Byzantium - Charlemagne - Intellectuals and the Court of Charlemagne - Crisis of the Carolingians

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Lecture 3: Constantine and the Early Church

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Lecture Details

The Early Middle Ages, 284--1000 (HIST 210)Professor Freedman examines how Christianity came to be the official religion of the Roman Empire. This process began seriously in 312, when the emperor Constantine converted after a divinely inspired victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Constantines conversion would have seemed foolish as a political strategy since Christianity represented a completely different system of values from that of the Roman state, but not only did it prove to be a brilliant storke in aid of Constantines quest for power, it fundamentally changed the character of the Empire and that of the early Church. Constantine also moved his capitol to a new city he founded in the East, named Constantinople, opening the possibility of a Roman Empire without Rome. Professor Freedman ends the lecture with a comparison of Diocletian and Constantine.0000 - Chapter 1. Introduction0703 - Chapter 2. Constantines Rise to Power1012 - Chapter 3. The Battle of the Milvian Bridge and Constantines Conversion1701 - Chapter 4. Constantine as a Christian Emperor2350 - Chapter 5. The City of Constantinople3132 - Chapter 6. Constantine intervenes in Church Doctrine3938 - Chapter 7. Constantine and DiocletianComplete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website httpoyc.yale.eduThis course was recorded in Fall 2011.