1. The Fall of the Roman Empire …well, sort of

2. Roll call of the damned – 1 Corinthians - creation of the “other” - paganism; fornicators (homosexuality ?) - Roman decline - echo of Augustus emphasized Greco-Roman concept of jurisprudence - spirit and letter of the law

3. Salvation always in peril – the Devil - Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda – singular; all good evil exists independently - demons n’stuff - problems of perfection

4. Paul organized early Christianity and made it appealing to a wide array of people... …but it was Roman oppression that gave Christians an added sense of identity through shared hardship

5. I. Meanwhile, back in Rome… The Good, the Bad, the Flavian

6. A. Dynasties 1.Julio-Claudians - Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero 14-69 CE

7. 2. Flavians 69-96 CE - Vespasian, Titus, Domitian - Equestrian, provincial

8. 3. The Five Good Emperors 96-180 CE Nerva - on the job training Trajan - eastern expansion (Dacia) - alimenta “welfare”

9. Hadrian - travelin’ man - Frumentarii Antoninus Marcus Aurelius - Meditations - Commodus, 180

10. II. Crises of the Third Century For what shall it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his own soul? - Mark 8:36

11. A. Economic instability 1. Disparity 2. Decline in investment capital 3. Environmental factors - disease; pollution; soil erosion

12. B. Political instability 1.Challenges from outside Marcommani Sassanids

13. 2. “Enrich the Army and scorn the rest” - Septimius Severus -235-284, 17 “Barracks Emperors” -End of the Pax Romana 192 CE

14. 3. Decline of central control

15. III. The Empire Restored (temporarily) Diocletian 284-305 - dominus

16. A. Origins of serfdom 1. Social reform - tax reform

17. B. East is East 2. Division / tetrarchy

18. C. West Germanic Revolution 200-400 CE 1.Battle of Teutoburg Forest, 9 CE “Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!”

19. 2. “Imperial” Germans - Weregeld - oaths 3. Comitatus Hermann Arminius

20. 4. Germanic “nations”

21. D. Diocletian’s Legacy 1.Byzantine Empire preserves Roman/Western ideals 2. Beginning of serfdom and feudal system 3. Cult of Diocletian (backfired)

22. III. Imperial Christianity 312 A.D. -

23. A. Constantine r. 312-337 CE 1.Persecution / conversion 2.Using one another - church financing - power of the bishops Ambrose of Milan, 390 CE Leo I & Attila the Hun, 450 CE

24. B. Religion & politics 1.Donatists - source of priestly power

25. 2.The Arian Heresy - those darn Greeks - Council of Nicaea 325 CE - Nicene Creed Trinity “All things visible and invisible” Rejection of rationalism

26. C. Christianity & the Fall of the Roman Empire 1. Augustine of Hippo ( 354-430) - Response to Donatists and Pelargins - sack of Rome 410 CE

27. 2. City of God ca. 411 CE city of God (Christianity) endures city of Man (Rome) is falling

28. * Augustine argues for universal salvation… BUT, must be a member of the Church - would give Roman Church unrivaled power and legitimacy for the next 1000 years Christianity rejects rationalism, humanism in favor of mysticism and ritual