LSU HIST 1001 Final Sources Dietz

Pliny and Trajan (Letters b/t them)

Who wrote Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger?

governor of a Roman province

Who is Pliny the Younger?

Emperor of Rome

Who is Trajan?

112 CE

When was Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger written?

letters

What type of document is Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger?

Pliny is a provincial governor communicating with the emperor on how to handle situations; How to deal with Christians

What is the main story-line in Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger?

to discuss what to do about the Christians

Why is Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger written?

Rome is worried about the Christians; They do not like how secretive the Christians are being

What are some assumptions we can make about the Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger?

Asks them if they are Christians three times. If they say "yes," then he puts them in prison. He does not care that they are Christians, but that they choose to go against Rome

What does Pliny do about the Christians?

No- Christians were only confronted if they committed some kind of offense. Once they were confronted, Christians were given an opportunity to deny their faith.

Is Pliny hunting the Christians down?

Rome was not fearful of Jesus, but rather that people would not maintain the worship of imperial cults, honoring the emperor, and thus commit treason. Secret societies. Sacrifices in temples increase during this time because Roman people want to make known they are not Christian

Why is Rome worried about the Christians?

Letters of Trajan and Pliny the Younger

What source is this from?

"It is my custom, Sire, to refer to you in all cases where I am in doubt, for who can better clear up difficulties and inform me? I have never been present at any legal examination of the Christians, and I do not know, therefore, what are the usual penalties passed upon them, or the limits of those penalties, or how searching an inquiry should be made. I have hesitated a great deal in considering whether any distinctions should be drawn according to the ages of the accused; whether the weak should be punished as severely as the more robust, or whether the man who has once been a Christian gained anything by recanting? Again, whether the name of being a Christian, even though otherwise innocent of crime, should be punished, or only the crimes that gather around it?"

mostly Perpetua; the rest probably a religious figure, maybe a priest

Who wrote The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas?

early 200 CE

When was The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas written?

probably a passage from her diary

What type of document is The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas?

Perpetua discussing what is happening to her when and after she gets arrested

What is the main story line in The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas?

Writes to Christians to encourage them to stay strong

Writes to non-Christians to make them understand that the Christian faith is worth dying for-victory over death

Who is the intended audience/why was it written in The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas?

Her actions would negatively affect her ancestors and family tradition. He is beaten because she does not obey her father, or paterfamilias

Why do they send Perpetua's father to convince her to recant her faith, and why do they beat him?

God equips her for battle; She refers to herself as a gladiator

1. Most Christians are slaves and poor people

2. Gladiators are the strongest men in Rome

3. She is not physically strong, but she is strong in her faith and spirituality

What is significant about Perpetua's dream?

The Egyptian she is beating is symbolic of a pagan, or devil. Wearing purple- symbolizing Roman government who is ordering persecutions

Relationship between God and Christians (Father and daughter relationship); Trainer- symbolizes God, "Peace be with you, my daughter!"

What does Perpetua's dream symbolize?

Christians believe baptism cleanses all sin and that sins committed after baptism could not be forgiven

Why does Perpetua wait to be baptized?

The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas

What source is this from?

"While we were still under arrest (she said) my father out of love for me was trying to persuade me and shake my resolution. 'Father,' said I, 'do you see this vase here, for example, or waterpot or whatever?' 'Yes, I do', said he. And I told him: 'Could it be called by any other name than what it is?' And he said: 'No.' 'Well, so too I cannot be called anything other than what I am, a Christian.' At this my father was so angered by the word 'Christian' that he moved towards me as though he would pluck my eyes out. But he left it at that and departed, vanquished along with his diabolical arguments. For a few days afterwards I gave thanks to the Lord that I was separated from my father, and I was comforted by his absence. During these few days I was baptized, and I was inspired by the Spirit not to ask for any other favour after the water but simply the perseverance of the flesh. "

Edict of Milan

What source is this from?

"Therefore, your Worship should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever, which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning the Christians and now any one of these who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without molestation. We thought it fit to commend these things most fully to your care that you may know that we have given to those Christians free and unrestricted opportunity of religious worship. When you see that this has been granted to them by us, your Worship will know that we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases; this regulation is made we that we may not seem to detract from any dignity or any religion. "

There is debate over who wrote it, but many think it was Constantine (West) and Licinius (East), the two current Augustus' at the time

Who wrote the Edict of Milan?

313 CE

When was the Edict of Milan written?

historical proclamation

What type of document is the Edict of Milan?

The Augustuses stating that all religions are to be tolerated and observed; no repercussions should be given; no one should detract another person for their religion

What is the main storyline of the Edict of Milan?

to stop the persecutions

Why was the Edict of Milan written?

there must've been many Christians being persecuted at this time; there also must've been many martyrs and riots

What are some assumptions we can make about the Edict of Milan?

Christians should be compensated for their losses

What else did Constantine say would happen to the Christians in the Edict of Milan?

Constantine was an understanding emperor who converted to Christianity and allowed the empire to regain religious freedom

What can we learn about Constantine from the Edict of Milan?

The Fate of Rome

What source is this from?

"Nations innumerable and most savage have invaded all Gaul. The whole region between the Alps and the Pyrenees, the...O wretched Empire! Mayence [Mainz], formerly so noble a city, has been taken and ruined, and in the church many thousands of men have been massacred. Worms...and these the sword threatens without, while hunger ravages within. ...I will keep silence concerning the rest, lest I seem to despair of the mercy of God."

St. Jerome

Who wrote The Fate of Rome?

theologian and scriptural scholar of the late Roman period

Who is St. Jerome?

409 CE

When was The Fate of Rome written?

letter

What type of document is The Fate of Rome?

The Visigoths raged war on Rome and it will see the same atrocities as other cities such as hunger, death, and depopulation. Rome was not in a good state.

What is the main storyline of The Fate of Rome?

written to Agenuchia, a highborn lady of Gaul, to explain the fate of Rome during the time when the Visigoths had accepted a huge ransom to end their siege of Rome

Who is the intended audience/why was it written of The Fate of Rome?

the people of Gaul viewed the Visigoths as "savages and barbarians"; when he says "in the church many thousands of men have been massacred" we can assume that many clergy men were murdered b/c we learned that the Visigoths did not destroy the churches

What are some assumptions we can make about The Fate of Rome?

The Nika Riot

What source is this from?

"An insurrection broke out unexpectedly in Byzantium among the populace, and, contrary to expectation, it proved to be a very serious affair, and ended in great harm to the people and to the senate...fire was applied to the city as if it had fallen under the hand of an enemy"

Procopious

Who wrote The Nika Riot?

a historian

Who is Procopious?

532 CE

When was The Nika Riot written?

a passage from Procopious' collection of books, A History of the Wars

What type of document is The Nika Riot?

(people revolt; officials killed; empress convinces husband to fight back)

o A fight broke out at Byzantium among the populations

o The two factions of the empire banded together and released prisoners

o All of the government attendants were killed

o Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora and consorts hid in the palace and debated whether to flee or handle the situation

o Empress Theodora tells them to stay and die in royalty, rather in fear

o Charioteers executed because of a fight; Justinian ordered his soldiers to kill 30,000 people in the stadium

What is the main storyline of The Nika Riot?

probably to the people during his time and to other future people

Who is the intended audience of The Nika Riot?

written to document history

Why was The Nika Riot written?

Blues and Greens rioting because of the race at the hippodrome; Normally people are arrested and executed

What normally happens after a riot?

Blues and Greens work together to kill the men bringing them to prison and release all other prisoners; Attack the government and set the city on fire; Emperor and emperors are hiding in palace

What happens after the riot this specific time, 532 CE?

Theodora want to stay and fight back; She came from a lower-class family of performers; She does not want to flee because she does not want to fall off the social ladder and lose her dignity

Why does Theodora want to stay and fight?

YES, it is surprising because women's voice is usually not as strong as men's—BUT not all surprising because Justinian and Theodora ruled together.

Is it surprising that Theodora convinces the emperor to stay?

victory

What does Nika mean?

The Qu'ran Selections (Sura 2 and Sura 4)

What source is this from?

"The Jews say: 'The Christians are not right,' and the Christians say: 'The Jews are in the wrong,' yet both read the Scriptures; and this is what the unread had said too, God alone will judge between them in their differences on the Day of Reckoning...Those who denied and turned away from the path of God, have wandered far astray...The Christ will never disdain to be a votary of God, nor will the angels close to Him."

We do not know who wrote it, but many Muslims believe it was Muhammad who spoke recited it; we do know that Ahmed Ali translated it in 1984; probably written during 7th-c. CE

Who wrote/ when was the The Qu'ran Selections (Sura 2 and Sura 4) written?

religious document

What type of document is The Qu'ran Selections (Sura 2 and Sura 4)?

The god in the Qur'an is the same God that Muslims, Christians and Jews worship; He is the ever merciful and all knowing God

What is the main storyline in The Qu'ran Selections (Sura 2 and Sura 4)?

Abbo the monk

Who wrote The Siege of Paris?

885 CE/late 9th c. CE

When was The Siege of Paris written?

historical text/document

What type of document is The Siege of Paris?

Paris is under attack, the Vikings are attacking with 700 ships, Siegfried is negotiating with the Bishop- showing that this city is very religious- Viking says have compassion for your flock in order for you to escape death (the Viking leader Siegfried says just let us take all your city and all of your goods, but Paris is like no); Vikings are attacking churches because they want to fight and are not Christians; Christians don't believe in fighting and have treasured valuables; the emperor Charles the fat comes pays him off

What is the main storyline of The Siege of Paris?

other historians and the Franks

Who is the intended audience in The Siege of Paris?

to record history

Why was The Siege of Paris written?

mostly reliable, but there is exaggeration

Is The Siege of Paris reliable?

the Vikings were ruthless, learn about the Viking's invasions, the Vikings were able to be bought off

What can you learn about The Siege of Paris?

Vikings are invading Europe, any where there is water they will invade and Paris is right next to the Rhine River; they can easily go up the river with their longboats

What is the historical context of The Siege of Paris?

The Life of Charlemagne

What source is this from?

"The Merovingian family, from which the Franks used to choose their kings, is commonly said to have lasted until the time of Childeric [III, 743-752] who was deposed, shaved, and thrust into the cloister by command of the Roman Pontiff Stephen [II (or III) 752-757].... At last, after conquering and subduing all who had offered resistance, he took ten thousand of those that lived on the banks of the Elbe, and settled them, with their wives and children, in many different bodies here and there in Gaul and Germany [804]. The war that had lasted so many years was at length ended by their acceding to the terms offered by the King; which were renunciation of their national religious customs and the worship of devils, acceptance of the sacraments of the Christian faith and religion, and union with the Franks to form one people....[He] had the gift of ready and fluent speech, and could express whatever he had to say with the utmost clearness. He was not satisfied with command of his native language merely, but gave attention to the study of foreign ones, and in particular was such a master of Latin that he could speak it as well as his native tongue; but he could understand Greek better than he could speak it."

Einhard

Who wrote The Life of Charlemagne?

a Frankish scholar

Who is Einhard?

b/t 817-830 CE (early 9th-c. CE) after Charlemagne's death

When was The Life of Charlemagne written?

historical biography

What type of document is The Life of Charlemagne?

This described different things about his life such as appearance, battles, family, origins, etc. He could not read or write until later in life

What is the main storyline of The Life of Charlemagne?

probably to Frankish people in his time and future Franks

Who was the intended audience in The Life of Charlemagne?

to explain the The Life of Charlemagne

Why was The Life of Charlemagne written?

This was a positive portrayal of his life; Showed that he was accepting, loyal, strong, smart and good; The society accepted and admired Charlemagne; this is reliable and accurate for the people that did like Charlemagne; we cannot assume that everyone liked him b/c this is a biased view

What can we assume/learn about The Life of Charlemagne? Is The Life of Charlemagne reliable/accurate?

The Life of Charlemagne

What source is this from?

"I am convinced that no one can describe these deeds [of Charlemagne's] more accurately than I can, for I was there when they transpired and, as people say, witnessed them with my own eyes. What is more, I cannot know for sure that anyone else will record these things. Therefore, I have concluded that it would be better to produce an account myself ... rather than permit the amazing life of this most remarkable king, the leading man of his generation, to fade from memory."

Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)

What source is this from?

"You Franks, the beloved of God whom He has chosen (as your many victories prove) and set apart from other peoples by the location of your country, your Catholic faith, and your respect for the Church—on you we call! There is grievous news from Jerusalem and Constantinople. A race from Persia—an accursed people who are the enemies of God— has stormed Christian lands and depopulated them by looting and burning.... On whom does the task of avenging these crimes fall ... if not on you, you on whom God has conferred—more than on any other nation—outstanding gifts of military valor, courage, vigor, and strength with which to overwhelm every opponent?"

a speech by Pope Urban II reported by Robert the Monk

Who wrote the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

sermon

What type of document is the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

States how the Turks came in and made a mockery of the Christian religion; They killed Christians or enslaved them, destroyed Churches or turned them into mosques

What is the main storyline in Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

Urban's audience was the Franks, but the monks could've been to other Christians

Who is the intended audience of the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

Maybe not Urban specifically, but maybe Robert the Monk wants the Franks to go out and try to seize this land as "God has given more military spirit to you than to other nations."

Why was the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II) written?

Shows how skillfully Urban appealed to the Frankish lords

What can we learn from the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

This speech spreads fast and various groups of people go on crusades "for the cross" (Explain the crusades)

What is the historical context of the Appeal of Urban II to the Franks (Sermon of Pope Urban II)?

end of the 11th-c. CE

When was the massacre of the Jews of Mainz?

Albert of Aix-la-Chapelle, a 12th-c. priest

Who wrote Massacre of the Jews of Mainz?

historical passage

What type of document is the Massacre of the Jews of Mainz?

Christians from Cologne slaughtered thousands of Jews; They destroyed their houses and synagogues; they also split their money between themselves; Some Jews fled the city and went into the help of Bishop Rothard, but the Christians found them. They slaughtered the Jews, women, and children

What is the main storyline of the Massacre of the Jews of Mainz?

During this time, society is very violent and are not religious tolerant

What can we learn from the Massacre of the Jews of Mainz?

Magna Carta

What source is this from?

"KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD, for the health of our soul and those of our ancestors and heirs, to the honour of God, the exaltation of the holy Church, and the better ordering of our kingdom, at the advice of our reverend fathers Stephen, archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, and cardinal of the holy Roman Church,...have confirmed for us and our heirs in perpetuity, that the English Church shall be free, and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties unimpaired.... If any earl, baron, or other person that holds lands directly of the Crown, for military service, shall die, and at his death his heir shall be of full age and owe a 'relief', the heir shall have his inheritance on payment of the ancient scale of 'relief'."

John, King of England and Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury (John was forced to write and sign it; Archbishop gave sample guidelines)

Who wrote the Magna Carta?

1215 CE (early 13th-c. CE)

When was the Magna Carta written?

a written grant

What type of document is the Magna Carta?

o 63 specific provisions as to what John should and should not do within the kingdom; The people were incredibly angry with John due to the taxes and being forced to fight. This is caused because of his choice of wife; he is marrying someone who is going to create drama; The people want to reform justice in handling how John rules

What is the main storyline in the Magna Carta?

provisions as to what kings should and should not do within the kingdom

Why was the Magna Carta written?

King John was forced to write it

What are some assumptions we can make about the Magna Carta?

not reliable that the king meant it, but reliable that it was written

Is the Magna Carta reliable?

Society does not agree with the things that John is going to do; There is enough power within the subjects to actually get him to sign the document

What can we learn from the Magna Carta?