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Example research essay topic: Middle Ages Roman Empire - 1,692 words

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Rome and Christianity The human species is one that is heavily based on tradition. Most of our kind subscribe to the idea of If it aint broke, dont fix it. This simple statement embodies the most basic of principles we as humans live by. Our empirical outlook on life is what has led us to where we are today, technologically, socially, as well as religiously and psychologically.

We take an idea that has worked for others in the past and either incorporate it or elaborate on it. This has been a strong foundation of human thought and behavior since the emergence of man, and it continues to act as a means of mental and social transcendence throughout the universe and time. This idea of influence throughout the ages can especially be seen in the Middle Ages, a time that was based heavily on early Roman and Christian ideals. (Brown, 22) In his book World of Late Antiquity Peter Brown, professor of History at Princeton University, takes his readers on an epic trip across space and time, exploring the dynamic and often-neglected world of the Late Antique Mediterranean. Beginning with the era of Marcus Aurelius, he chronicles the crisis of the 3 rd Century, and the new "hard emperors" who arose to effectively re-unite the near-shattered empire. A time when Church was god, Christianity was law, and Roman influence could be observed in almost every aspect of life. Almost everyone knows that the basis of Christianity is Jesus the savior Christ.

While many think he was a Christian, the more educated ones will tell you that he was Jew. More over, he was a Jew who lived in the province of Judea. During his life, he dedicated most of his time to fulfilling Jewish laws. He is pictured in the four gospels as a man who could heal the sick, raise the dead, and still the winds. He mainly helped the Jewish poor and outcast. This angered some Jews, while pleasing others.

To the Romans, Jesus was just another troublemaker. Eventually he was arrested and sentenced to crucifixion. This devastated many of his followers. And when he supposedly rose from the grave three days after his death, many heads turned. Thus the birth of Christianity took place. Since the Roman Empire extended so far, most of the Christian people were housed within its figurative walls.

This was to the general disdain of many Roman people. They did not care for the unrelenting Christians, and therefore many persecutions took place over the years. Eventually, Christianity became widely tolerated and, ultimately, by the order of one Roman emperor, legally tolerated. (Brown, 40) The Emperor Constantine I was the sole ruler of the Roman world between 324 and 337 C. E. His reign was likely the most crucial of all the Roman emperors in determining the future course of western civilization. Constantine began the process of making Christianity the religious foundation of Europe.

Also, his Constantinople replaced the city of Rome as the center of imperial power. This set the stage for the occurrences of the Middle Ages. His philosophical view of monarchy became the foundation for the concept of the divine right of kings, which prevailed in Medieval Europe. (Brown, 19) When Constantine I had come to power, the empire was tormented by economic hardship and insecurity. The impoverished masses had been failed by their gods and searched for salvation. Christianity, a religion which had been originated by the tired, poor and meek outcasts, was finally ready to be embraced by these hungry masses.

St. Pauls promises of a new life after death and elimination of the old Jewish restrictions made this move possible. Constantine simply institutionalized it. The ecumenical dynamism of Christianity emerged as a power for the renewal of the structures and the institutions of the disorganized Empire. Constantine made some other major institutional changes, which would change Christianity forever. For one, he published two edicts.

One provided compensation for anyone who had been persecuted for his Christian beliefs by the old empire, the other was law that gave Christianity a preferential status in the empire. Although proclaiming tolerance for the old religions, Constantine asserted that ritualistic purity and sanctity were conditional for the righteous and obedience to God's sacred laws that were to be taught within the church. Because Constantine wanted to replace paganism with Christianity as the official state religion, he needed a unified faith, which would serve as the religious backbone of the empire. He quickly found that persuasion was not enough to forge a solid, unified faith. In an attempt to resolve the Arian controversy, he convened the first Ecumenical Council in the history of the church. It may be the most profound event of his reign because it set a precedent that remains in place today.

When the church had inner conflicts to resolve, they would convene an ecumenical council to settle the matters in dispute. The idea of an omnipotent god who loved all, and a paradisiacal afterlife were very appealing to people of the time. This led to many conversions over the years and eventual theistic dominance. Since this religion was so popular, it extended out from Rome and became part of other cultures and people. Once this spreading occurred it was obvious that Christianity would not falter or die out.

Throughout the downfall of Rome and the ensuing aftermath, it went on to become the most popular religion in medieval Europe and was thus adopted into every aspect of culture. The church of the time had control over the government and, consequently, the kingdom, shaping it to their liking. Many practices were based upon strong Christian values and beliefs, the likes of which are seen today. To understand how big of an impact Christianity had on the middle ages all you need to do is read a book or play written at the time. (Brown, 44) The heavy Christian undertones should make themselves present almost immediately. It is plain to see that Christianity was a major part of the canvas upon which the picture of the middle ages was painted. In addition to Christianities baring over Medieval thought and rule, the complimentary aspect of an all-powerful church must be observed as well.

Since the Middle ages were heavily based on Christianity it would make sense that the rulers of that time were Christian. This gave the church, and the people at the top of the church hierarchy, a great influential say in how things were done. Constantine, in the latter part of his life, converted to Christianity. As soon as he did so, state funds started being used to build and upkeep churches. This was during the later part of the 300 s C. E.

By 400 C. E. Christianity had taken over the Mediterranean and was the dominant religion. This was when it started to replace the government and court system. When the emperor of the time slaughtered a large group of people, one of the Latin Doctors, a man by the name of Ambrose, stated that the king was wrong and would be condemned for his act. The king, who does not answer to anyone, pleaded for and sought forgiveness in the church.

This was yet another big step in the taking over of the Roman state by the Christian Church. This Church before state attitude and method of rule did not die with the end of the Roman empire, as some may think. It was very present during the medieval times, and some may argue that it still is today in some countries. Rulers of the middle ages were predominantly Christian and answered to the pope. This gave Christianity, as well as those involved a very large influence over affairs of the kingdom. Do the crusades ring a bell?

Finally we come to the basis of culture, language, and many other practices of the medieval times. As we observed earlier in the essay, humans are based on tradition. We take something we like and we keep using it. This is how things from the past become incorporated into the future, as was with Rome and the middle ages.

A few examples of this incorporation, as it were, are architecture, public buildings, religion, language, and the theater. These aspects of Roman culture were present throughout many of the medieval cultures, especially in the middle ages poster child, England. The languages that sprouted from Latin, the predominant language spoken in Rome, became known as the romance languages. These languages are still around today and, after English, are the most spoken languages in Europe and America. Stone working and building architecture practices of the Roman empire was used throughout much of Europe as a standard. The famous arch was and has been incorporated into many of the finest works of man.

Roman road structure were also integrated into the European way of life. (Brown, 91) The arts of the Roman empire were very popular, and thus were brought to many other European civilizations. The theater was always popular in Rome with such playwrights as Sophocles and Machiavelli, but never as popular as it became in countries like England. This artistic inclusion into the European cultures gave them a means of personal and societal exploration. It is obvious that Rome had major influences on the later peoples and cultures of the European continent in many ways. Through traditional practices and the assimilation of old ways, early Roman culture was brought back into the lives of many people, in many different ways.

The influence imposed upon the middle ages by Roman culture, the church, and Christianity obviously had a great affect on the period. Not only did the church gain power over the government, and thus Christianity over the people, but Roman culture made for itself a new name within its medieval context. This conglomeration of tradition and assimilation was the major foundation for the middle ages and the cultures and peoples encompassed within. We can assess, from this information, that without these influences, the middle ages and its affects would have been much different. Bibliography: Brown, Peter. World of Late Antiquity.

London: Thames and Hudson, 1989.


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Research essay sample on Middle Ages Roman Empire

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