Great Schism or East-West Schism part 1 | World History | Khan Academy
TLDRThis video script delves into the significant shifts in Christianity's status within the Roman Empire during the fourth century, highlighting the pivotal role of Emperor Constantine in unifying Christians and his eventual conversion to Christianity. It outlines the rise of Christianity to become the official religion under Theodosius and the subsequent persecution of other religions. The narrative then explores the evolving distinctions between the Western and Eastern Churches, marked by linguistic differences and power struggles between the Pope and the Byzantine Emperor. The script also discusses the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne and the cultural and religious divergences that arose, including the iconoclasm controversy and the filioque debate. These elements collectively contributed to the eventual schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The 4th century witnessed a significant shift in the treatment of Christianity within the Roman Empire, from persecution to official acceptance and promotion.
- 👑 Constantine the Great played a pivotal role in unifying Christians and resolving theological disputes, such as the Arian Controversy, and later converted to Christianity himself.
- 📜 Theodosius declared Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, leading to the persecution of other religions.
- 🌐 The Roman Empire's administration became more formalized, with the east and west eventually being ruled separately, culminating in the fall of the western empire to Germanic conquerors.
- 👑 The Byzantine emperors, ruling from Constantinople, considered themselves the continuation of the Roman Empire, not the Byzantine Empire as historians later termed it.
- 🏰 The western Roman Empire fell to Germanic kingdoms, with Justinian managing to reclaim some of the lost territories.
- 🏙️ The rise of the Visigoths and the Franks, with the latter giving their name to modern-day France, marked a significant cultural and religious shift in the region.
- 🗣️ The division between the eastern and western churches was influenced by language, with Latin being used in the west and Greek in the east.
- 🏛️ The Pope of Rome claimed universal jurisdiction over all of Christianity, a claim that was challenged by the patriarch of Constantinople and other significant centers of Christianity.
- 👑 Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III, introducing a new actor in the political and religious landscape and further complicating the relationship between the east and west.
- 📜 Theological disputes such as iconoclasm and the filioque controversy further deepened the rift between the eastern and western churches.
Q & A
What was the status of Christianity in the Roman Empire at the beginning of the fourth century?
-At the beginning of the fourth century, Christianity was a persecuted religion under the rule of Diocletian.
How did Constantine's attitude towards Christianity differ from Diocletian's?
-Constantine was sympathetic to Christians, convened them for unity, and even converted himself to Christianity, which was a stark contrast to Diocletian's persecution.
What significant change did Theodosius bring about regarding Christianity in the Roman Empire?
-Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and began to persecute other religions.
Who was the last emperor to truly rule both halves of the Roman Empire?
-Theodosius was the last emperor to truly rule both the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire.
What were the two primary languages used in the church that contributed to the division between the east and the west?
-Latin was used in the western church, while Greek was used in the eastern church, contributing to the cultural and religious division.
Who were the two main religious leaders involved in the power struggle between the east and the west?
-The Pope of Rome and the Byzantine Emperor, seated in Constantinople, were the main religious leaders involved in the power struggle.
What was the term used to describe the five centers of Christianity that were considered to have extra weight and collective leadership?
-The term used was 'pentarchy', which was codified in Justinian's law.
Who was the leader of the Franks that significantly expanded their territory?
-Charlemagne was the leader of the Franks who expanded their territory significantly.
How did the spread of Islam impact the Byzantine Empire?
-The spread of Islam led to significant weakening of the Byzantine Empire due to the Islamic conquests.
What was the significance of Pope Leo III crowning Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor?
-The crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor introduced a fourth actor into the power dynamics, implying that Charlemagne was the heir to the Roman Empire, which created further tensions with the Byzantine Empire.
What was the controversy surrounding the term 'filioque' in the context of the Nicene Creed?
-The term 'filioque', meaning 'and the Son', was added to the Nicene Creed in the west, suggesting that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This was not agreed upon by the east, leading to theological disagreements.
What was the iconoclasm movement and how did it affect the relationship between the western and eastern churches?
-The iconoclasm movement was an initiative started by the Byzantine emperor in 726 to remove religious images from churches, citing Old Testament references. The western church, led by the Pope, disagreed with this movement, further deepening the divide between the eastern and western churches.
Outlines
🌟 The Rise of Christianity and the Division of the Roman Empire
The first paragraph discusses the significant shift in Christianity's status within the Roman Empire during the fourth century. Initially, it faced persecution under Diocletian, but with Constantine's rise to power, Christians found an ally. Constantine sought to unify Christians, addressing controversies like the Arian debate, and converted to Christianity himself. By the end of the fourth century, Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion and began persecuting other faiths. The video also outlines the growing administrative division between the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire, leading to their separate rule and the eventual fall of the western empire to Germanic tribes. It highlights the emergence of the Byzantine Empire, which continued to view itself as the Roman Empire, and the rise of Germanic kingdoms in the west. The paragraph concludes by setting the stage for the cultural and religious divergence between east and west, focusing on language differences and the power struggle between the Pope and the Byzantine Emperor.
🏰 The Holy Roman Empire and the Iconoclastic Controversy
The second paragraph delves into the political and religious developments of the eighth century. It describes how the Franks, under Charlemagne, expanded their territory and provided protection to Pope Leo III, who was facing political threats. In gratitude, the Pope crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor, a title that implied a continuation of the Roman Empire's legacy. This act introduced a new actor into the political and religious landscape, further complicating the relationship between the Byzantine Empire and the emerging Holy Roman Empire. The paragraph also touches on the linguistic and cultural differences between the Latin-speaking west and the Greek-speaking east, as well as the ongoing iconoclasm debate, which saw the Byzantine Empire advocating for the removal of religious icons from churches, a move that was not accepted by the western church. Additionally, the paragraph mentions the filioque controversy, where the western church added the phrase 'and the Son' to the Nicene Creed, causing theological disagreements with the eastern church.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Christianity
💡Diocletian
💡Constantine
💡Arian Controversy
💡Theodosius
💡Byzantine Empire
💡Pentarchy
💡Charlemagne
💡Holy Roman Emperor
💡Iconoclasm
💡Filioque
Highlights
The fourth century witnessed a dramatic shift in the treatment of Christianity within the Roman Empire, from persecution to official acceptance and promotion.
Constantine the Great played a pivotal role in unifying Christians and resolving the Arian Controversy, eventually converting to Christianity himself.
Theodosius I declared Christianity as the official state religion, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Roman Empire.
The division between the Eastern and Western Churches was formalized as the Roman Empire split into two halves, each with its own administration.
The Western Roman Empire fell to Germanic conquerors in the latter half of the fifth century, leading to a cultural and religious divergence from the East.
The Byzantine Empire, based in Constantinople, continued to view itself as the Roman Empire, despite the fall of the Western half.
Justinian managed to reclaim some of the lost territories of the Western Roman Empire, demonstrating the resilience of the Eastern half.
The rise of the Visigoths and the Franks in modern-day Spain and France, respectively, represented the emergence of new Germanic powers in the region.
Language became a key factor in the division between the Eastern and Western Churches, with Latin being used in the West and Greek in the East.
A power struggle emerged between the Pope of Rome and the Byzantine Emperor, both vying for leadership over Christianity.
The concept of the pentarchy, where five centers of Christianity held significant influence, was established during the reign of Justinian.
Charlemagne's rise to power and his crowning as the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III introduced a new dynamic to the religious and political landscape of the time.
The crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor created tensions between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity, furthering the cultural divide.
The spread of Islam significantly impacted the geopolitical landscape, with the Byzantine Empire weakening due to Islamic conquests.
The iconoclasm movement, which began in the Byzantine Empire, led to the destruction of religious icons and further strained relations between the Eastern and Western Churches.
The addition of the filioque clause to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church, stating that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, was a point of contention between East and West.
The Western Church's assertion of its authority, based on the seat of St. Peter in Rome, was a key factor in the ongoing disputes and divisions within Christianity.
Transcripts
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