Rise of Constantine and Early Christian Church

25 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the notes.

Constantine the Great

Roman emperor who ruled 306–337; sole emperor after 324; founded Constantinople and promoted Christian unity (Council of Nicaea) and religious toleration (Edict of Milan).

Sole Emperor

Condition when Constantine ruled the entire Roman Empire alone after defeating rivals by 324.

Edict of Milan

313 decree granting religious toleration to Christians and ending imperial persecution.

Council of Nicaea

First Ecumenical council (325) convened by Constantine to settle Christian doctrine and governance, condemning Donatism and Arianism.

Nicene Creed

Formal statement of Christian belief produced at Nicaea, affirming the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus.

Donatism

Heresy arguing that sacraments performed by sinful priests are invalid; condemned at Nicaea.

Arianism

Doctrine that the Son is not of the same essence as the Father; rejected at Nicaea.

Tetrarchy

System of four co-emperors (two Augusti and two Caesares) instituted by Diocletian to stabilize rule.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who established the tetrarchy, created Milan and Nicomedia as capitals, and presided over persecution of Christians.

Maximian

Augustus of the West under the Tetrarchy; partner of Diocletian.

Galerius

Caesar of the East under the Tetrarchy; later Augustus; key player in the later empire.

Constantius Chlorus

Caesar of the West under the Tetrarchy; father of Constantine; died in York in 306, triggering Constantine’s rise.

Milvian Bridge

312 battle in which Constantine defeated Maxentius, associated with his Christian vision.

Chi-Rho

Christogram XP used by Constantine as a sign of Christ before the Milvian Bridge; symbol later associated with Christianity.

Constantinople

New eastern capital founded by Constantine on Byzantium; located on the Bosphorus; later capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Byzantium

Ancient city that became Constantinople; site chosen for the new capital.

Bosphorus

Waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara; strategic strait around which Constantinople was built.

Great Persecution

Diocletian’s broad crackdown on Christians (ca. 303–311), culminating in widespread martyrdoms and tightening of anti-Christian measures.

Ecumenical Council

Council summoned by the emperor or pope to unify Christian doctrine and governance across Christendom.

Metropolitan

Senior bishop who oversees a province and directs multiple cities’ churches; later called Archbishop.

Bishop

Leader of a city’s Christian community; oversees local clergy and laity.

Patriarch

Head of a major ancient church (Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria); Constantinople became a patriarchate in 381.

Patriarchate of Constantinople

Eastern patriarchate established in 381, elevating Byzantium’s city to a major center of church leadership.

Nicomedia

One of two new imperial capitals created by Diocletian for administration (the other being Milan).

Milan

One of two new imperial capitals created by Diocletian for administration (the other being Nicomedia).