Notes on Chapter Eight: The Art of Late Antiquity

Geographic Context: The geographic region for Chapter 8 remains identical to Chapter 7, focusing on the Roman Empire. This includes the entire expanse of territory controlled by ancient Rome at its height.
Definition of Late Antiquity: This term refers to a late phase of the Roman Empire. During this period, the empire still existed but was undergoing significant decline and transformation.
Cultural Transition: Late antiquity is defined less by a specific date and more by a massive cultural shift. It represents a long period of religious upheaval, transitioning from a dominant pagan culture to a Christian-focused society.
The Concept of the Bridge: Late antiquity serves as a historical and artistic bridge between the ancient classical pagan culture of Rome's past and the medieval Christian culture of the middle ages.

Founding of Rome: Rome was established in seven hundred fifty-three BC when Romulus founded the city.
Roman Monarchy: A period when Rome was subject to Etruscan kings.
Roman Republic: Rome became a republic after expelling the Etruscan kings.
Early and High Empire: Beginning with the ascension of Augustus to the throne, moving through the high and late empires.
Late Antique Period: This period covers roughly the third and fourth centuries AD. It is described as a slow transition rather than a sudden event (e.g., it did not simply start on "Monday, August fifteenth").

Roman Diversity: The Roman Empire was fantastically diverse in social, ethnic, racial, linguistic, and religious terms due to its massive size and the conquest of various peoples.
Traditional Roman Religion:
- Polytheism: The worship of multiple gods (e.g., Jupiter, Apollo, Venus).
- State Policy: Rome allowed people to worship their own gods as long as they also paid service or respect to the official Roman state gods.

The Rise of Christianity:
- Monotheism: The worship of a single God.
- The Shift: During the third and fourth centuries, a growing number of Romans began rejecting the traditional state religion in favor of Christianity.

Incline and Decline: This period documents the historical incline of one dominant religion (Christianity) and the decline of another (traditional paganism).

Jesus of Nazareth: Born in the Roman province of Judea in the year zero. (Note: The Western Christian calendar was retroactively changed hundreds of years later to align with this date).
Identity: According to Christian belief, Jesus is the Son of God and the prophesized Messiah or savior.
Growth of the Religion: Christianity was initially a slow-moving movement with few followers, but it eventually "snowballed" throughout the Roman Empire.
Early Jewish Art: There is little to no Jewish art existing from the time of Abraham (approximately six thousand years ago).
Early Christian Art: There is no surviving art from the actual life of Jesus (two thousand years ago). The "earliest" Christian and Jewish works available to study date back to approximately the third century (around the year three hundred).

Conversion to Christianity: Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.
The Debate on Conversion:
- Academic View: Most historians believe it was a "power move" or political maneuver because Constantine saw the majority of Romans were already converting.
- Faith-Based View: Some believe he was a true believer.
- Primary Evidence: Letters written by Constantine suggest he touted the advantages of the religion, claiming he won all his battles after becoming a Christian.

Legalization: In three hundred thirteen AD, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christian worship in Rome. Practicing Christianity had previously been illegal to certain degrees.
Capital Relocation: Constantine moved the capital from Rome (founded by Romulus in Italy) to the east.
- Constantinople: The new capital, also known as "New Rome." Today, this city is known as Istanbul in present-day Turkey.
- Rationale: Constantine believed a Christian empire could not be founded amidst the pagan history of old Rome; a fresh religion required a fresh capital.

Baptism: Constantine was baptized on his deathbed in three hundred thirty-seven AD. In that era, baptism was often delayed until the end of life to ensure the soul was fully cleansed.

Geographic Divide: Moving the capital created a definitive split between the Eastern and Western parts of the empire.
Linguistic Differences:
- Eastern Roman Empire: Greek was the dominant language.
- Western Roman Empire: Latin was the dominant language.

Proximity to Judea: The move to Constantinople brought the capital closer to the Roman province of Judea and the origins of the Christian faith.

Persecution under Nero: In the year sixty-four AD, Emperor Nero allegedly set part of Rome on fire and used the small Christian religious minority as a scapegoat, starting a tradition of Roman persecution.
The First Council of Nicea: Organized by Constantine in three hundred twenty-five AD.
- Purpose: To formalize rules for Christianity, which previously consisted of various sects practicing differently.
- Outcome: The establishment of the Catholic Church (Protestant sects like Baptist or Methodist would not exist for another one thousand five hundred years) and the creation of the Nicene Creed.

Art Reflects Culture: As the Roman culture changed from pagan to Christian, the artistic values changed accordingly.
Classical vs. Late Antique Styles:
- Classical (Small 'c'): Refers to the collective Greek and Roman styles, characterized by naturalism and humanism.
- Late Antique/Early Christian: Marks a move away from naturalism and toward Christian Iconography.

Iconography and Education: Early Christian art was intended to be educational for an illiterate population. Instead of reading scriptures, people learned stories (like Adam and Eve) through specific images (snake, tree, apple).
An End to Nudity: Unlike the pagans who glorified the human body and sexuality, Christians did not. Consequently, nudity virtually disappeared from Western European art for the next one thousand years.
Architectural Shift: Christians moved away from building temples and instead developed the Basilica style for their churches.
Burial Practices: The tradition shifted from pagan cremation to Christian burial.

Change as a Process: The speaker emphasizes that "change is not an event; it is a process." The transition of Rome from polytheistic to monotheistic was a long, complicated, and drawn-out commingling of cultures.
Foundation for the Future: Late antiquity serves as the foundation for the Middle Ages (medieval period/dark ages), including the Romanesque and Gothic styles that shaped modern Europe.
The Old and the New: The period is characterized by the mixture of the "old gods" (paganism) and the "new god" (Christianity).