Arch of Constantine Constantine’s the Great was one of the strongest and most important rulers in late Roman Empire and the founder of the Byzantine Empire. His legacy is known for his bold changes and accomplishments in uniting the empire making it become more powerful once again and his outlawing of paganism, and curbing Christians from persecutions. The Arch of Constantine was erected between 312 and 315 AD., in Rome adjacent to the Coliseum to commemorate Constantine’s triumph over Maxentius in a victory that united the empire and insured its transition into the Eastern Roman Empire known as the Byzantine Empire, with its capital Constantinople in what is known today as Istanbul.
The arch is known as the largest and last surviving Roman Empire since the end of the Severan dynasty in the late 3rd century. It consists of three arches, made from rectangular blocks of Proconnesian marble with a height of 69 Ft and 85 ft wide, with one large central arch and two smaller arches on its side. Four Corinthian columns stand at each of its façades. With the inscription on top of the arch and both sides, Constantine was reminding the Roman people of a different war, a civil war, unlike Titus’ suppressing of the Jewish Revolt or Severus’ victory over the Germans. Many of the arch decorations have been incorporated from other monuments. Some argue that such reuse of art is a sign of the empire’s artistic decline. Such idea has become less prominent as
The arch is one of the most incredible feats or roman architecture. Arches we're useful becuase they were able to hold more weight and they used less materials to create. One famous arch in roman history is the Arch of Constantine. It is the largest standing roman arch. The Romans didn't just stop once they created the arch. This creation also sparked the idea of the dome. To create a dome its basically putting a bunch of arches together. We see domes and arches in many official buildings today. For example, the Capitol building in Washington
The Roman Empire was the period of time after the Roman Republic and before the Byzantine Empire from 29 B.C. to A.D. 476. It was the highest point of Roman civilization, greater than any prior empires and towers over even the empires after it; it triumphed over the world .
The Byzantine empire and its capital of Constantinople existed for more than 1,123 years. A Roman military officer named Constantine, was stationed in Britain. Later, he defeated generals and became a Roman emperor. He gave Christianity legal standing within the empire and moved the imperial capital from Rome to Byzantium. Their emperors are not the only primary reason why the Byzantines should be studied. They protected Constantinople by building walls, preserved Greek classics, and began the Eastern Orthodox Church.
In 323 a young roman military officer born in Moesia successfully defeated three other generals to become the Emperor of Rome. The young Romanroan officer was named Constantine he quickly made two decisions that would change European and Middle Eastern history. First, he gave Cchristianity legal standing and moved the imperial capital from Rome to Byzantium a small seaside trade town in modern day Turkey. Constantine relocated the government for two reasons: for one he wanted to be able to pay closer attention to challenges from Persia. He also wanted to be near the spiritual and cultural richness of cities like Jerusalem, Nicomedia, and Ancient Troy. Constantinople lavishly built up Byzantium and renamed it after himself Constantinople.
In 306 C. E Constantine became Emperor of the Rome. In the Roman Empire Constantine was the first Christian Emperor to rule. In 337 Constantine the great died.
Rome, a prosperous empire was greatly on the rise from 500BC - 500AD. Experienced many new architectural achievements including the aqueduct, Hadrian’s Wall, The Colosseum, and the Pantheon. But during the late stages in the empires existence, the western part was invaded by barbaric Germanic tribes who wanted to take the Roman empire over. The west eventually fell, but a new empire arose which is essentially “The New Roman Empire” The Byzantine Empire. They Byzantines incorporated Roman architecture, laws, and religion into the founding of the Byzantine Empire.
Constantine was a very influential leader throughout his life. He was able to accomplish many things, everything from making a major world religion possible, to running a successful empire. It all started when he was born in around 280 CE in Naissus, Moesia, to father Flavius Valerius and mother Helena. His father became Roman emperor in around 305 CE. He was elected to the position of emperor by Maximalla, who was the emperor of Western Rome at the time. While his father was alive, Constantine was sent off to Eastern Rome, where he received a great education and became fluent in both Greek and Latin. This is when most historians agree that he was introduced to Christianity. Constantine then went back to Western Rome where he would take over the position of emperor after his father died. At the age of 57, Constantine got sick and died in Constantinople on May 22, 337 CE. Throughout his whole life, Constantine made many efficacious and influential contributions as a leader, and he was a great example of the Gerstell academy definition of leadership and the Principles and Attributes.
He reunited the east and west under his own rule. He also built a new capital at Byzantium, on the Bosporus. He named this city Constantinople. Constantine wanted a new capital that would be a Christian city, not a pagan one. He continued the policies of Diocletian. People saw no need to work hard with no chance of getting ahead. These reforms only slowed down the process of collapse. After Constantine 's death in 337 A.D., the empire was again divided.
The Byzantine Empire was originally known as the Eastern Roman Empire, after surviving the barbaric attacks on its land. Emperor Justinian protected this empire and was well known for conquering many places. In the Byzantine Empire, the Emperor is the supreme ruler, looked at as a god. He was the head of the army, the highest political authority and the supreme legislator and judge. However, according to Procipius in, The Secret History, Justinian destroyed the greatness and history of Rome. Justinian was described as being “crafty, hypocritical, secretive by temperament, two-faced, and purely evil”.
Ancient civilizations, specifically Greek and Roman civilizations, played various significant roles throughout the main civilizations in the Common Era. Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman from the Ancient civilization since the Roman emperor Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and changed its name to Constantinople, known as the center city of Christian world. The political identity of Byzantine Empire can be traced back to one of the Imperial Rome. The empire had one emperor who made all decisions in the empire. The member of senate was appointed by the Emperor to be the figure-head. However, during Justinian’s reign, he tried to revise the Roman Law code and summarized all laws so that the court can refer to. Some of the architecture style during that time was resemble to the Roman architecture. For example, The Hague Sophia was the combination of longitudinal shape of the Roman basilica with a domed central plan. Regarding the infusion of the Greek culture, it could be easily seen by looking
Constantinople great Christian city that had been seized and controlled by the Muslim Ottoman sultan Mehmed II in 1453. This event marked the final end of the Roman/Byzantine Empire and the ascendency of the Ottoman Empire. The byzantine was a stronghold for Christianity and had ruled for eleven hundred years.
During his reign, art combined the geometric style from the tetrarchy with a touch of the previous verism, demonstrating Constantine?s independent power. However, after his rule, the Roman Empire once again divided into two rulers: one for the eastern parts, and one for the western parts. In the east, the Byzantine Empire developed under the Theodosian Dynasty
Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, or Constantine, is commonly referred to as the fist Christian emperor of the Roman Empire and as the defender of Christianity. Such grand titles are not necessarily due for the reasons that people commonly think of them today.
In many places throughout the world many buildings, monuments and sculptures have been made. Some were made centuries ago, and some were made recently. Many works of arts are significant or a great part of history. Some of the many buildings that have been made throughout time could have also been dedicated to someone or something. For example, the Arch of Titus was dedicated to Titus. Another example would be the Arc de Triomphe which was dedicated to soldiers. Many buildings can have a very significant meaning behind them, in the following essay I will be speaking about the importance of both of these works of art, which are the Arch of Titus and the Arc de Triomphe.
Christianity’s history is filled with division, controversy, and conflict. One of the most important people who contributed to the lasting success of this diverse religion was Constantine. While legalizing Christianity in Roman society, he founded the capital of the eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople. Because of this and other great accomplishments, Constantine appropriately earned the name Constantine the Great.