Mr. Wright's Art Class: Living with Art, Chapter 15 - Christianity and Europe, Part 1

William Wright・2 minutes read

The chapter explores the disintegration of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Byzantine Empire with a focus on Christian art and symbolism, significant historical events, architecture, and cultural influences unique to both Western and Eastern Christianity. The spread of Celtic culture, the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, and the emergence of other Turkish empires, marking key historical and cultural developments in Europe and the Middle East, are also examined.

Insights

  • Christianity played a pivotal role in the unification of warring kingdoms in Europe, with the Eastern Roman Empire transforming into the Byzantine Empire under the influence of the Christian faith, leading to significant cultural shifts and the emergence of Christian symbolism in art.
  • The split of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern parts, with the latter centered around Constantinople, marked a crucial turning point in history, influencing the development of distinct artistic styles and religious practices that differentiated Western Christianity from Eastern Orthodox Christianity, ultimately shaping the course of European history.

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Recent questions

  • What role did Christianity play in the Roman Empire?

    Christianity united warring kingdoms, influenced art, and legal changes.

  • How did Constantine impact Christianity in Rome?

    Constantine legalized Christianity, made it official religion, and moved capital.

  • What architectural features characterized Saint Peter's Basilica?

    Saint Peter's Basilica had a long nave, aisles, and central altar.

  • What distinguishes Western Catholic churches from Eastern Orthodox practices?

    Western churches had central aisles, while Eastern focused on verticality.

  • What led to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire?

    The Ottoman Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

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Summary

00:00

"Christianity and Art in Roman Empire"

  • Chapter 15 of "Living with Art" by Mark Getlein focuses on the disintegration of the Roman Empire.
  • The Roman Empire splits into two different parts, with the Western portion becoming Europe and the Eastern part centered around Constantinople, forming the Byzantine Empire.
  • Christianity plays a significant role in uniting the warring kingdoms of Europe, with the Eastern Roman Empire becoming the Byzantine Empire in Greece and modern-day Turkey.
  • The timeline of Christianity is crucial, with the birth of Jesus occurring between 6 and 4 BC, and the term "Christian" being used around 40 CE.
  • The Edict of Milan in 300 CE legalizes Christianity, leading to significant changes in the Roman Empire.
  • Constantine, after a vision of Christ, makes Christianity the official religion and moves the capital to Constantinople.
  • Catacombs served as early Christian gathering places, protected by Roman law, where the first Christian art depicting biblical stories emerged.
  • In the Byzantine Empire, mosaics were prevalent, with images of Christ often resembling Helios, the god of the sun, blending Greek culture with Christian symbolism.
  • Various crosses, including the equilateral Greek cross, Latin cross, Celtic cross, and Russian Orthodox cross, became synonymous with Christian practices.
  • Greek symbols like INRI, representing "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," and the Greek spelling of Jesus, IHS, were used in early Christian art and symbolism.

14:19

"Saint Peter's Basilica: Rome's Christian Icon"

  • Christianity in Rome gains prominence over Roman paganism, with Saint Peter's Basilica becoming a central church.
  • The original Saint Peter's Basilica, built in Rome, was different from the current structure and was demolished in 1506 to construct the new basilica during the Renaissance.
  • The original basilica was based on Roman basilica architecture, with a long nave, aisles, and a central aisle for main activities.
  • Western Christianity's Saint Peter's Basilica differed from Eastern Orthodox Christianity's practices, with the former having a central aisle for movement and attention.
  • The original basilica featured an altar in the eastern wall, a unique aspect compared to Roman basilicas.
  • The structure of Western Catholic churches, including cathedrals, was influenced by the Roman basilica layout but with alterations.
  • Churches in the ancient world, like Santa Sabina, utilized clerestories for natural lighting due to minimal use of fire inside.
  • Constantine, the Roman Emperor, moved the capital to Byzantium (later Constantinople/Istanbul) in 330, leading to the split between Western and Eastern Roman Empires.
  • Byzantine art in the Eastern Empire, characterized by central plan churches with domes, mosaics, and a focus on verticality, differed from Western art.
  • The Byzantine Empire eventually collapsed in 1453 when the Ottoman Turks defeated it, leading to the growth of Islam and other Turkish empires.

29:24

Ancient Britons and Celtic Culture in Europe

  • Cheddar Man, the oldest known Britain from 10,000 BC, was found on the west coast of Britain, representing the first Britons.
  • The Beaker People, known for their pottery culture, had a widespread presence from southern Denmark to Spain, with similar pottery found across Europe during the Neolithic period.
  • Celtic culture emerged during the Iron Age in Europe, with the Gauls being a significant group in mainland Europe, while the Britons were the ancient people of the British Isles.
  • The Hallstatt culture, originating in Austria and Germany, marked the beginning of Celtic culture's unifying force, spreading through different eras until around 500 BC.
  • The Romans referred to the Celts as Gauls, with Gaul specifically denoting modern-day France, although Celtic cultures extended into Turkey, where they established a society known as Galatia.
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