Christianity in Late Antiquity & the Early Middle Ages Western Civilization University High School Western Civilization University High School The Middle Ages Western history divided up into roughly 3 eras: 1. Ancient/classical era (aka. Antiquity) 2. The Middle Ages 3. Modern era Western history divided up into roughly 3 eras: 1. Ancient/classical era (aka. Antiquity) 2. The Middle Ages 3. Modern era The Middle Ages Middle Ages: 5 th 15 th century Early Middle Ages: 5 th cent. (fall of Rome) 1000 CE High Middle Ages: 1000 1300 CE Late Middle Ages: 1300 1500 CE Middle Ages: 5 th 15 th century Early Middle Ages: 5 th cent. (fall of Rome) 1000 CE High Middle Ages: 1000 1300 CE Late Middle Ages: 1300 1500 CE Church/State Relations after fall of Western Roman Empire, 2 sources of continuity: Eastern RE/Byzantine Empire Christian church worked closely together in 4th-5th centuries after fall of Western Roman Empire, 2 sources of continuity: Eastern RE/Byzantine Empire Christian church worked closely together in 4th-5th centuries Church/State Relations 312 CE: Constantine makes Christianity legal, encouraged no Roman taxes for clergy made Sunday a public holiday, day of rest built Christian churches, Lateran Palace (Popes home until 14th cent.) 312 CE: Constantine makes Christianity legal, encouraged no Roman taxes for clergy made Sunday a public holiday, day of rest built Christian churches, Lateran Palace (Popes home until 14th cent.) Lateran Palace Church/State Relations 380 CE: emperor Theodosius makes Christianity official religion of empire practicing old Roman religion = treason! allowed church to make own courts for clergy/religious issues (canon law) ***church becoming independent, powerful political entity*** 380 CE: emperor Theodosius makes Christianity official religion of empire practicing old Roman religion = treason! allowed church to make own courts for clergy/religious issues (canon law) ***church becoming independent, powerful political entity*** Church/State Relations Get Nasty political tension between church and state Theodosius orders Bishop Ambrose of Milan to hand over cathedral to empire political tension between church and state Theodosius orders Bishop Ambrose of Milan to hand over cathedral to empire Bishop Ambroses Response At length came the command, Deliver up the basilica; I reply, It is not lawful for us to deliver it up, nor for your Majesty to receive it. By no law can you violate the house of a private man, and do you think that the house of God may be taken away? But do not burden your conscience with the thought that you have any right as Emperor over sacred things It is written, Gods to God and Caesars to Caesar. The palace is the Emperors, the churches are the Bishops. To you is committed jurisdiction over public, not over sacred buildings. Church/State Relations empire becoming a Christian society church ultimately more powerful entity, because everyone (even the emperor) answers to God empire becoming a Christian society church ultimately more powerful entity, because everyone (even the emperor) answers to God Islam in Late Antiquity & the Early Middle Ages Western Civilization University High School Western Civilization University High School What About Further East? end of 6th cent.: Arabia socially, politically divided Bedouins: nomadic tribes of sheepherders Hejazi: more established farmers, traders (wealthy towns) no political ties, but some cultural ties 3 holy months per year no fighting! Mecca (city in current Saudi Arabia) = religious center no fighting! Muhammad CE Arab legends written ~100 years after his death (accuracy of life details? importance of life details?) had seizures where he lost consciousness, saw visions Muhammad 610 CE: visions became more frequent, religious began to preach in stylized, rhyming language describing visions single God Muhammad = prophet Quran = prayer recitation Muhammad followers wrote down visions today, Quran = holy book for Muslims words of God Prophet Muhammad the people Muhammad small following in Mecca 622 CE: leads followers to Medina big following there! 630 CE: returns to Mecca 632 CE: dies in Medina; Arabia unified as Muslim community religion itself = Islam So What Do Muslims Believe? Allah (Arabic word for God) = all- knowing, all-powerful Muhammad = prophet of Allah (along with Abraham, Moses, Jesus) Jesus mentioned 93 times in Quran! (including birth to Virgin Mary) believe Jesus was a prophet, not divine So What Do Muslims Believe? Muslims obliged to jihad (literally self-exertion) striving to spread Gods message; striving in the path of God not necessarily violent, though some have interpreted it that way So What Do Muslims Believe? to get to Heaven, Muslims must follow Muhammads strict moral code (sharia = Islamic sacred law) 5 Pillars of Islam 1. profession of faith (There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet.) 2. pray 5x per day 3. fast & pray during Ramadan (holy month) 4. give to the poor & needy 5. at least one pilgrimage to Mecca, if possible Islam, Christianity, & Judaism 3 branches of the same religious tree all monotheistic all worshipping same God! dhimmis: Muslim word for Jews and Christians (protected people) Expansion of Islam by Muhammads death, Arabia united as Muslim culture spread to northern Africa Spain spread east to India caliph: successor 1 st caliph elected by Muhammads friends/followers Ali Ali (Muhammads cousin) = 4th caliph quickly assassinated Alis followers = Shiites/Shia (Arabic for supporters) Ali and future caliphs = legit first few caliphs = not so legit Sunnis (derived from Arabic for traditional beliefs/practices): accepted earlier caliphs Islam in Spain Umayyad Dynasty Kingdom in Spain Al-Andalus part of the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim control (land of the Vandals) referred to as Moorish Spain (Moors, Berbers from North Africa) interfaith harmony: 8 th -12 th centuries part of the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim control (land of the Vandals) referred to as Moorish Spain (Moors, Berbers from North Africa) interfaith harmony: 8 th -12 th centuries Arab intellectual achievements shape Europe Algebra (830) Hindu numbers applied to physics and astronomy (1,2,3,4) Use of zero Translated Greek works New paper making technique (from China) Al-Razi ( ) made distinction between measles and smallpox Ibn-Sina Bukhara (980 1037) codified medical thought (contagious nature of tuberculosis Algebra (830) Hindu numbers applied to physics and astronomy (1,2,3,4) Use of zero Translated Greek works New paper making technique (from China) Al-Razi ( ) made distinction between measles and smallpox Ibn-Sina Bukhara (980 1037) codified medical thought (contagious nature of tuberculosis Differences Between Spreading Islam and Other European Cultures Islam Western Europe Assure Muslims keep mandates of Qur'an Dont look for territorial boundaries, looked for concentration of beliefs Not interested in traveling to Europe State provides peace, order and justice Borders defined Both began to fear contact by late 10 th century Changes in the late 10 th century Infidel Infidel - non believer (not a nice term) Mozarabs Mozarabs lived in special section of city Buried in separate cemeteries Cant build churches Cant work with or employ Muslims Infidel Infidel - non believer (not a nice term) Mozarabs Mozarabs lived in special section of city Buried in separate cemeteries Cant build churches Cant work with or employ Muslims