Roman Empire

Early Christianity

Hatred of Jews intensified in the first and second century of Christianity. Jesus was born a Jew and considered himself part of the Jewish community in the Galilean village of Nazareth on the border of the Roman Empire. He and his followers adhered to the Jewish way of life; Jesus preached a gospel that accepted the fundamental concepts of the Law and the Prophets.

During Jesus’ lifetime there was increasing pressure from the Roman government for Jews to conform to Roman culture while Jews sought ways to maintain their own identity. Some Jews advocated rebellion against the Roman authorities. Jesus and his followers pressed for Jews to reform their practices and atone for their sins. Jews developed their arguments on both sides of the debate, but in all cases their arguments were within the context of Judaism.

There was growing opposition to Jesus from the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders who did not accept Jesus’ interpretation of Jewish law. Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem; he was tried and condemned to execution. His execution was a crucifixion while Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea (26-36 C.E.).

Crucifixion was a form of Roman punishment for non-Roman citizens who threatened the authority of the Roman government. The followers of Jesus claimed that God raised Jesus from the dead, and this became a central belief among Jesus’ followers who became known as Christians.

See also PBS' Frontline series, "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians."

The separation between Jesus and his followers on the one hand, and Jews on the other hand, sharpened when the followers of Jesus claimed that he was the Messiah of Israel. This led to the foundation of communities of Jews not conforming to the Laws of Moses. Within a short time the non-conforming Jews formed a majority, and by the year 70 C.E., the schism was more marked.

Image: Arch of Titus in Rome. This detail depicts the destruction of the second Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in 70 Common Era (C.E.).

Mosaic: Jesus in His Glory about 400 C.E. Santa Pudernziana, Rome.

Image: Sarcophagus with Scenes from the Passion of Christ (probably from the Catacomb of Domitilla): Christ with Roman guard before Pilate, detail of 4th [RC.] panel, mid-4th Century C.E.

Image: Sarcophagus with Scenes from the Passion of Christ (probably from the Catacomb of Domitilla): Judgment of Pilate, detail of 5th [far R.] panel, mid-4th Century C.E.

Painting: "White Crucifixion" by Marc Chagall, 1938, oil on canvas, Art Institute of Chicago.

Image: The Death of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ, Early 5th Century A.D. British Museum, London. One of four ivory panels from a casket depicting religious themes. One of the earliest known illustrations of the Crucifixion.

Constantine

Image:Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, ruled the Roman Empire as Emperor from 306 to 337 C.E.; b.274 C.E.(?) d.306 C.E.

In the early fourth century C.E., the Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the state religion of the empire. Christianity was deemed the only religion; Jews were required to convert. When Jews refused to convert, they were excluded from citizenship and regarded as outcasts or pariahs in league with the Devil.

During a dream the night before an important battle, Emperor Constantine the Great claimed he had a sign from the God of the Christians. Emperor Constantine won this battle and thereafter showed his gratitude to the Christian God by turning his entire empire over to this new religion.

Image: Emperor Constantine (Vision) 1654-70, BERNINI, Gian Lorenzo, Marble Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican.

The early Church Father, St. John Chrysostom (344-407 C.E.), clarified that Judaism had been superseded by Christianity and that Jews had committed deicide:

Fall of the Roman Empire

From the late fourth century C.E., the Roman Empire was divided between the Latin Western and the Greek Eastern, or Byzantine Empire, with its capital in Constantinople. The western part of the empire fell to the invasions of various Germanic tribes, and in 455 C.E. the Vandals plundered the city of Rome.

The Eastern Empire survived until 1453 when the Turks seized control of Constantinople. In 534 C.E., the Emperor Justinian codified laws that regulated the lives of Jews in the empire. Essentially, the Justinian Code defined Jews as second-class citizens.

Image: The Haga Sofia—the Christian church built in Constantinople by the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 537 C.E. After Constantinople was overrun by the Muslims in 1453, the Turks' minarets were added.

Mosaic: A detail from the Church of San Vitale, built by Justinian in Ravenna, Italy after his armies had reconquered Italy.

A sampling of the regulations suggest the degraded status of Jews:

Carolingian Empire

Statue: Charlemagne, Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France.

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, conquered most of Europe during the Middle Ages. His alliance with the Pope became a precedent for later ties between popes and kings.

Charlemagne and his followers recognized the importance of Jews in trade and wanted to extend privileges to Jews for engaging in business. Jews were required to pay a tenth of their annual income for protection by the Carolingians.

Some Church leaders were hostile to the Carolingian rulers for their tolerance of Jews and chastised them for their policies. The letter of Pope Stephen III to Bishop Aribert of Narbonne illustrates the hostility:

The reign of Charlemagne sharpened the division between the East and West. The papal support of Charlemagne in the West angered the Emperor in Constantinople who regarded Charlemagne as a usurper. In 1054, the division between East and West became formal.

See also virtual tour of Versaille Palace: http://olsonsoft.co.nz/versaillestour/

Image: Chess piece of Carolingian soldier.

Map: Charlemagne's Empire 800 C.E.

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