Constantine s Edict Of Milan - 854 Words

Throughout history there have been moments that define the rest of time. Turning points or critical moments in which one decision or creation forever changed the path of history. Such moments as Constantine’s Edict of Milan, Gutenberg’s development of the printing press, and Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses forever changed the landscape of Western Civilization. Who knows where Western Civilization would be without these great â€Å"hinges† of history. In 313 CE, Constantine passed the Edict of Milan. This edict declared the freedom of everyone in the Roman Empire to choose their own religion. He neither made polytheism illegal nor did he make Christianity the official religion of Rome. Instead, to placate both pagans and Christians, both were acceptable to be practiced. This edict also stated that the emperor was protected by the â€Å"highest divinity,† whether that was God, Jupiter or any other god in the Roman pantheon. Constantine continued his work to bring pagans and Christians into peaceful coexistence. He gave the Christians their property confiscated during Diocletian’s Great Persecution, but he had the Roman treasury reimburse the people who had bought the stolen goods. He also declared the Lord’s Day to be called â€Å"Sunday† in honor of the day the Christian’s God rested and in honor of the sun, an aspect of pagan worship. He even kept the traditional title of â€Å"Pontifex Maxim us† or chief priest. After decades of persecution the Christians finally had an emperor on theirShow MoreRelatedConstantine s Declaration Of The Edict Of Milan1843 Words   |  8 PagesConstantine’s declaration of the Edict of Milan left a lasting impact on Roman society. The Edict of Milan allowed the tolerance of all religions, which influenced laws surrounding religion. This investigation will evaluate the following research question: To what extent did Constantine’s Edict of Milan, issued in 313 C.E., affect the spread of Christianity in Rome until its collapse? The investigation will address if the Edict of Milan was a turning point for Christianity in Rome, and if it hadRead MoreA Military Officer At The Time1674 Words   |  7 PagesConstantine was born in Naissus, upper Moesia on February 27th 285 ad, and was the son of Helena who was a barmaid. His father Constantius Chlorus was a military officer at the time. In 293 AD, while his father constantius wa s at the rank of Caesar, Constantine attended the court of Diocletian. His father was given the control of Gaul ( Fance). He was soon after promoted to Caesar. Rise of Diocletian Third century Rome was run down by constant barbarous attacks from the north. Diocletian becomesRead MoreByzantine Art: The Transfiguration of Christ Mosaic in Saint Catherines Monastery1377 Words   |  6 Pagesof much of the art turned from secular to religious; Christianity to be more specific. Constantine was the last emperor of the Roman Empire to hold undivided power. Under his rule, Constantine created the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance to all religions. This was of particular importance to Christians, who had been previously persecuted due to their spiritual beliefs. Because of the Edict of Milan, many Christian buildings were erected in addition to the many secular buildings that wereRead MoreConstantine : A Influential Leader1295 Words   |  6 PagesConstantine was a very influential leader throughout his life. He was able to accomplish many things, everything from making a major world religion possible, to running a successful empire. It all started when h e was born in around 280 CE in Naissus, Moesia, to father Flavius Valerius and mother Helena. His father became Roman emperor in around 305 CE. He was elected to the position of emperor by Maximalla, who was the emperor of Western Rome at the time. While his father was alive, Constantine wasRead MoreConstantine And Empress Helen Their Impact On Christianity1479 Words   |  6 PagesTopic: Constantine and Empress Helena: Their Impact on Christianity -Who was Constantine?: Constantine was believed to be born on February 22, either in 272 or 273 AD. The exact date and year is not definite. He was the son of Marcus Flavius Valerius Constantius Herculius Augustus (mainly known as Constantius Chlorus) and Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta (mainly known as Saint Helena). His father was an officer of the army, and his mother was an inn keeper’s daughter. His father later divorced his motherRead MoreReligion Vs. Society During The 1700s1350 Words   |  6 Pages Although religion has been around for centuries, it did not become an institution with an abundant amount of power that was able to control the mass to its favor for some time. Religion’s first appearance within an empire was in 325 A.D. when Constantine ruled the Roman Empire (Trace the History of the Roman Catholic Church). Before Christianity was named the official religion of the Roman Empire, Constantine’s predecessor, Emperor Nero, had many Christians persecuted because he believ ed ChristiansRead MoreConstantine The Great s Life1874 Words   |  8 PagesConstantine The Great, he was born on February 27, circa 280, in Naissus, Moesia (now it is Serbia). His father, Flavius Valorous was an officer in the Roman army at that time. Constantine the Great’s mother, Helena, was from humble beginnings; it is unknown whether she was the wife or concubine of Constantius. That marriage was not really a good marriage, so Constantine’s father left Helena to marry the stepdaughter of Maximian, the Western Roman emperor. After sometime Constantine’s father wasRead MoreThe Rise Of The Romans1776 Words   |  8 Pagesincreased the number of conversion of people to Catholicism. Likewise, Constantine’s reign as emperor of Rome from 306 to 337 CE incited a revolutionary movement favorable to the growth of Catholicism in power. Beginning with a rivalry between Constantine and Maxentius, both of whom wanted to claim the imperial title, the two individuals clashed in a power struggle, which inevitably gave birth to a civil war. In fact, Backman states that, â€Å"A rival named Maxentius had also claimed the imperial titleRead MoreComparison Of Roman Emperor Constantine And The Frankish Merovingian King Clovis1136 Words   |  5 PagesHowever, power was obtained through how much land one acquired. It was held to those who were politically clever and used certain strategies in order to gain territory and ultimately power. One of the strategies in which both the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Frankish Merovingian King Clovis used was the driving force of religion. Through faith, one can move mountains; this is exactly was these men did. They used peopl e’s faith to aid them in obtaining authority over land. Throughout this essayRead MoreConstantine The Great And Flavius Valerius Constantinus1114 Words   |  5 PagesPART A Constantine, more formally known as Constantine the Great or Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was born on the 27th of February in possibly 280 CE. Constantine was a Roman, and subsequently Emperor - known to be Christian. Flavius Valerius Constantius, whom was an army officer, was his father, whilst his mother is named Helena - thought to possibly be a concubine of his father. His father is known for being raised to the title of Caesar, becoming known as Constantius Chlorus, granted 3 years