Recording-2025-03-04T00:24:41.837Z

Theodosius and the Transition to Christianity

• Theodosius I: The last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire.

  • Changed state religion of the Roman Empire to Christianity.

  • Outlawed paganism.

• Children: Three children including Galloplicidia, Onurus, and Arcadius.

  • Upon Theodosius's death, his sons divided the empire, leading to instability.

• By the end of the 5th century, the Western Roman Empire fell to barbarian invasions (e.g., Lombards, Ostrogoths).

Collapse of the Western Roman Empire

• No single event defines the fall of the Roman Empire.

• The Western Empire’s collapse marked a significant turning point.

• The Eastern half retained the capital in Constantinople (formerly Byzantium).

  • Byzantine Empire regarded themselves as successors to Rome, speaking Greek and formulating a distinct religious tradition (Eastern Orthodox Christianity).

• Development of separate religious paths led to the Great Schism between Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

Byzantine Empire and Expansion

• The early Byzantine Empire initially shown in historical maps.

• Greatest period of growth under Emperor Justinian.

  • Reclaimed former Western Roman territories.

• By the 1400s, the empire shrank significantly, caught between the Roman Catholic West and the rising Islam (Ottoman Empire).

• Ended with the fall to the Ottoman Empire in the 1400s, noted by the renaming of Constantinople to Istanbul.

Justinian and Theodora: A Power Couple

• Justinian: Known for military conquests and church construction; an active Christian leader.

• Theodora: Common-born yet influential, known for her intelligence and pragmatism.

  • Anecdote about their response to the Nika riots highlights her strength: declared she'd rather die an empress than flee.

• First Golden Age of Byzantine Empire concluded with iconoclasm, leading to a civil war.

• A second Golden Age began around the 850s.

• Crusaders captured and pillaged Constantinople in the 13th century, marking the decline of Byzantine power.

Achievement: The Hagia Sophia

• Commissioned by Justinian to reflect imperial authority and glory.

  • Built to commemorate victories following the Nika riots.

• Architecture:

  • Features a massive dome, achieved with innovative techniques (pendentives).

  • Initially collapsed, was rebuilt even larger and more stable.

• The dome’s looks of being weightless completes Justinian’s ambition.

Architectural Elements of Hagia Sophia

• Dome covered with a ring of windows appears to float, providing an ethereal light.

• Interior decorated to enhance the sense of divinity; blending Christian iconography with Roman styles.

• Installation of a mihrab after conversion to a mosque represents Islamic worship practices.

• Pendentives: Structural elements developed to support domes, originated from earlier architectural practices.

  • Squinches developed later for similar construction purposes.

Gothic Mosaics in San Vitale

• San Vitale church in Ravenna: Essential to Justinian’s claim over the territory.

• Mosaics within the church feature richly colored glass and gold, illuminating Justinian and Theodora’s rule.

• Iconography emphasizes roles of earthly and spiritual authority.

  • Justinian depicted with Eucharistic bread; Theodora with a chalice.

• Art style shifts from realistic human representation to symbolic storytelling, with emphasis on divine rather than human destiny.

• Justinian and Theodora’s mosaics present a regal image; symbols of halos and lavish attire underscore their legitimacy and divine right to rule.