How Constantine Changed History

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Published 2023-06-27
In its first three centuries, Christianity spread rapidly, but at the time of Constantine’s conversion, less than 10% of the population of the Roman Empire was Christian. Three centuries later, the overwhelming majority of the Roman and post-Roman world were Christian, and adherents of the old gods (paganism) had declined to 10% or less of the population. Imperial patronage clearly changed Western history decisively. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at the life of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, and the many ways his conversion changed the Roman Empire and transformed his adopted religion, Christianity.

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All Comments (21)
  • @_CR_
    An outstanding lecture, as usual. Thank you very much
  • @davioustube
    I'm always impressed with the depth, care, and insight you bring to helping us understand our history and religions
  • @JohnFBurrows
    🎉 first person here - love these lectures thank you for amazing content
  • You’re wonderful, John! That bit about multiple paths to salvation was just perfect. Thanks for another great lecture!
  • @madestone9725
    I have learned so much from your lectures the last couple days. Thank you! I wish there were more channels like this explaining other religions.
  • @smroog
    EXCELLENT !!!! EXCELLENT !!!! The more I listen to John the more I appreciate his knowledge !!!! He always boils history down to something a relative uneducated guy like myself can actually understand, like history how we treat each other. We are a very strange species with so much of our efforts put on proving /convincing others "I am Right". "Those that know do not know. Those that do not know, KNOW" When will we learn to appreciate and value our differences ???? "That which is hateful to you, do not to your Fellow" Hillel. GOOD LUCK HUMANITY !!!!
  • @sm0kybluedaze394
    This was just a beautiful lecture; incredibly knowledgeable, easy to follow and entertaining 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Nicely done!!!! ❤
  • One of these days, I’ll catch it live again. I only got one so far. Lol! Thank you so much for these!
  • @jodalinkus5538
    Superb knowledge covering in depth periodization and integral parts of formidable Roman empire's history. Deciphering personal , omnipresent traits of multifarious rulers allows for a more limpid, accurate view of the Roman empire
  • In the triumphal arc commemorating constantines victory over his rival, there is no indication of his christian conversion. But there are greco roman gods like apollo
  • @trilithon108
    Learned a lot about early Christianity and Roman history😊
  • @adrianwhyatt1425
    Actually the last vestige to fall wasn't Constantinople. The Morea (including Patras) fell in 1460, and Trabizond in 1461. This left the Principality of Theodoro, in southern Crimea, which fell in 1475.
  • @stustig9430
    Excellent lecture as usual - thank you It was interesting that you said The Logos has many names and paths throughout our earth - C.S.Lewis hinted at that thought in his Narnia books - the children asked Aslan (his name in Narnia) if He exsisted in other worlds; Aslan said 'He does, but is known by other names'
  • @user-mk6qt1bm3t
    Santa has a temper. ROFL. I love your lectures!. I second the historical Joan of Arc idea!.
  • @sebolddaniel
    Khor or Chora Church in Istanbul has the most gorgeous Byzantine frescoes inside. Sadly, the church is not mentioned in the Wikipedia article about Istanbul. And there are other gorgeous churches, so make sure if you go to Turkey, you get a good guide book. The town in Anatolian Turkey where the Council of Nicea took place is now a Muslim city, Iznik, known for it awesome porcelains with tri color flowers and also tricolor peacock designs: Ottoman Iznik ware. The Islamic Art Museum in Istanbul is not far from the Hagia Sophia. It has a large room filled with Ottoman Iznik ware and you can photograph every piece
  • @sebolddaniel
    Split, Croatia still has a big white tower remaining from Diocletian's Palace, very beautiful, and there is a huge Roman amphitheater up the coast in Pula, and a fantastic church with interior mosaic walls similar to what you find in Palermo, Sicily is located in a town on the northern Croatia border. The most beautiful mosaic churches in the world are in Palermo, Sicily.