2: The crisis of the third century and its aftermath and the beginning of Christianity and its architecture

Question 1

When was constantine emperor from?

Answer 1

306- 337

Question 2

happened in 312?

Answer 2

Battle of Milvian bridge

Question 3

happened in 313?

Answer 3

edict of Milan (tolerance for christians)

Question 4

When was diocletian emperor?

Answer 4

284- 305

Question 5

List of archaeological evidence for the crisis (pt1)

Answer 5

1) The Augsburg Victory Altar
2) Roman Tower in Cologne
3) The Aurelian wall
4) Trier (The porta niagra gate, double church)
5) Diptych of Stilicho
6) Villa Romana del Casle
7) Diocletian’s palace in split

Question 6

What is the main written source for the crisis of the third century?

Answer 6

Cassius Dio

Question 7

Issues with cassius dio?

Answer 7

• Upper class perspective (he was a senator), arch helps to fill in lower classes
• Moralistic- creates image of this great crisis

Question 8

What does the Augsburg victory altar show?

Answer 8

commemorates victory of local romanised population against barbarian invaders

Question 9

VERY important themes to think of when considering archaeological evidence for the crisis

Answer 9

The increase in urban fortifications
the concept of frontiers
rural investment

Question 10

previous scholarly thought on end of emp?

Answer 10

previously seen as ending in 4th/5th century but more emphasis placed on earlier events now— there was not a single end point

Question 11

what was the crisis of the third century?

Answer 11

• political crises, succession issues
• attacks from outside and civil war (i.e. many incursions into gaul in 250s-70s)
• inflation

Question 12

Evidence for early christian architecture

Answer 12

• the theodosian walls
• Old St peters basilica
• The catacombs of st Caliextus

Question 13

Discuss Old St Peter’s Basilica

Answer 13

begun between 326-333 on constantine’s orders
becomes model for religious buildings as before it, no model existed just temples which wanted to separate from
also shows change in conceptualisation of emperor as no statue of him, like there was in temples

Question 14

Discuss Theodosian walls

Answer 14

begun in 407

Question 15

Happens in 324?

Answer 15

Founds constantinople

Question 16

What happens when christianity becomes the state religion?

Answer 16

Early christian culture was not necessarily distinct from roman culture but when it becomes a state religion it is represented very differently
– A change in religious practise equates to a change in building practice, a huge shift in christian rome

Question 17

Discuss Diocletian’s palace in Split

Answer 17

built for his retirement, symbolises that he was becoming physically and socially more removed from the empire– he is on the otehrside of the adriatic

Question 18

When do we think of the crisis as coming to end?

Answer 18

with the reforms of Diocletian, he creates the tetrachary and divides the empire into east and west and creates new capitals- moves itialian capital to milan

Question 19

Discuss the Aurelian wall

Answer 19

constructed in rome itself, prompts to ask how in the third century context, the romans conceptualised their frontiers and why