西方文明史\西方文明简史_6

TransformationoftheRomanWorldLECTUREⅥHeirsofRomeGermanickingdomsByzantineEmpireIslamicEmpireComponentsoftheNewCivilizationGreco-RomanculturallegacyChristianchurchGermanicsocietyOriginsofChristianityJesusofNazareth,theMessiahortheChristHisteachingsSoineverything,dotootherswhatyouwouldhavethemdotoyou,forthissumsuptheLawandtheProphets.LovetheLordyourGodwithallyourheartandwithallyoursoulandwithallyourmindandwithallyourstrength.Thesecondisthis:Loveyourneighborasyourself.Humility,charityandbrotherlylove—thebasisforthevaluesystemofmedievalWesterncivilizationCrucifixion,resurrectionandascensionBaptismImportantapostles:PeterandPaulTheGrowthofChristianityChristianitypromisessalvation,agreatappealinaworldfullofsufferingandinjustice.Inthethirdcentury,theChristianchurchbecamemoreorganizedandhierarchical.In313,EdictofMilanofficiallytoleratedtheexistenceofChristianity.ChristianitywasmadetheofficialreligionoftheRomanEmpireinthelatefourthcentury.ChristianInstitutionsClergy:archbishops,bishopsandpriestsBible:Gospels:accountsofJesus’lifewrittentowardtheendofthe1stcenturyEpistles:lettersRevelationReligiousDisputesConstantinecalledthefirstecumenicalcouncilofthechurch,theCouncilofNicaeain325.TheRomanemperorcametoplayanincreasinglyimportantroleinchurchaffairs.ThePowerofPopeBishopsofRomewereconsideredPeter’ssuccessorsGregorytheGreat(590-604)madeRomeanditssurroundingareaintoanadministrativeunitthatwastobeknownasthePapalStates;extendpapalauthorityovertheChristianchurchinthewest;convertedthepaganGermanicpeoples.TheMonksandTheirMissionsBenedictineMonasticismMonkscopiedLatinworksandpassedontheGreco-RomanlegacytoWesterncivilization.MonkshelpedspreadChristianity.ChristianityandIntellectualLifeTomanyearlyChristians,theBiblecontainedalltheknowledgeanyoneneeded.OthersencouragedChristianitytoabsorbtheclassicalheritage.Inmanyways,ChristianityhelpedtoservedtopreserveGreco-Romanculture.ChristianIntellectualsAugustineofHippo(354-430):TheCityofGodprovidedajustificationforsecularpoliticalauthority.Jerome(345-420):agreatscholarofclassicalstudies,translatingtheBibleintoLatin.TheLatinVulgatebecamethestandardversionoftheScripture.Cassiodorus(490-585):DivineandHumanReadingsisacollectionoftheliteratureofbothChristianandpaganantiquity.Healsoclassifiedallsecularknowledgeintothecategoriesofthesevenliberalarts:thetrivium(grammar,rhetoric,andlogic),andthequadrivium(arithmetic,geometry,astronomy,andmusic).EndoftheWesternEmpireVisigothssettledinSpainandsouthernGaulVandalsconqueredNorthAfricaRomanemperorswerepuppetrulersunderthecontrolofbarbariangenerals476,depositionofRomulusAugustulusGermanicKingdomsOstrogothickingdominItalyVisigothickingdominSpainFrankishkingdominFranceandwesternGermanyAnglo-SaxonkingdomsinEnglandTheSocietyoftheGermanicPeoplesGermansweregovernedbytheircustomsandcustomarylaws.Compurgationandtheordealwereusedtodeteminewhetheranaccusedwasguilty.ConclusionChristianityhelpedpreserveGreco-Romanculturallegacy,andservedasacivilizingagentthatbroughtpaganpeoplesintoanewEuropeancivilization.