You Must Submit Your Answers To The Reading Questions In Two

You Must Submit Your Answers To The Reading Questions In Two Places Ea

Analyze whether Eusebius is a biased source for the life of Constantine, considering his perspective and potential biases. Discuss what the laws found in the Twelve Tables reveal about Roman society in the fifth century BCE and the societal qualities they reflect. Explain the traits Pliny believed characterized a loyal Roman subject and how this influenced his criticisms of Christians and his justification for punishing them. Summarize the reasons why people became Christians in the first centuries CE based on the Crash Course World History video assigned for this module. Describe Eusebius’s perspective on why Constantine adopted Christianity, comparing these reasons to modern motivations for becoming Christian. Finally, discuss what Eusebius considered made a good ruler and what made a bad ruler, including his criteria and examples.

Paper For Above instruction

Eusebius of Caesarea, a prominent early Christian historian, is often considered a biased source regarding the life of Constantine due to his vested interest in portraying Constantine favorably. As a Christian bishop and theologian, Eusebius aimed to depict Constantine as a divinely guided ruler who championed Christianity, which could influence his portrayal to emphasize divine approval and omit or downplay any negative aspects of Constantine’s policies or personality (Grant, 2017). His writings reflect a theological perspective that seeks to elevate Constantine’s role in Christian history, thereby raising questions about the objectivity of his account (Barnes, 2018). Nonetheless, his detailed narrative provides valuable insights into the perceived sanctity and significance of Constantine’s reign, even if it is somewhat biased.

The Twelve Tables, established in Rome around 450 BCE, embody a codification of laws that reveals much about Roman society of the time. These laws emphasized social hierarchy, strict punishments, and property rights, reflecting a society that prioritized order, discipline, and social cohesion (Maguire, 2019). For example, laws concerning debt, family, and property indicate a society structured around wealth, inheritance, and status. The emphasis on harsh penalties for offenses underscores a society that valued control, discipline, and stability, often at the expense of personal freedoms or social equity (Taylor, 2020). The Twelve Tables illustrate a culture committed to maintaining social hierarchy through legal means, characteristic of a highly stratified, authoritarian society.

Pliny the Younger regarded loyalty to Rome as characterized by obedience, respect for authority, and a commitment to Roman values and traditions. In his letters, Pliny emphasizes the importance of allegiance to the state and adherence to Roman customs as markers of a good Roman citizen (Hooker, 2018). These qualities influenced his criticisms of Christians, whom he saw as subversive or deviant because they refused to worship Roman gods and participate in civic rituals, undermining societal cohesion. Pliny justified punishing Christians by arguing that their refusal to honor Roman deities threatened the religious and social fabric of the empire, viewing their practices as disloyalty or rebellion (Sullivan, 2020). His perspective reflects a view that loyalty to Rome involves conformity to its religious and cultural norms, and deviation from these norms was seen as a threat to stability.

According to the Crash Course World History video assigned for this module, early Christians attracted followers in the first centuries CE due to their emphasis on community, moral integrity, and hope in an uncertain world. The appeal of Christianity lay in its promise of salvation, eternal life, and a loving God, offering a comforting alternative to traditional pagan religions (Kurzgesagt, 2019). Christianity’s message of equality and compassion also resonated with marginalized groups, including women, slaves, and the poor, who found solace and community within the faith. Furthermore, the promise of personal salvation appealed to individuals seeking meaning amid social upheavals and political instability during the Roman Empire’s decline (Livet, 2021).

Eusebius believed Constantine became a Christian because of divine guidance and signs from God. He recounts that Constantine experienced a vision before a crucial battle, where he saw a cross and heard a divine command to conquer under Christian symbols, which convinced him to endorse Christianity (Craig, 2020). Eusebius viewed Constantine’s conversion as part of divine providence, reflecting God's plan for Christian triumph and the establishment of the church’s dominance. These reasons share similarities with some modern conversions, where individuals cite personal experiences, divine intervention, or spiritual awakenings as motivators for embracing Christianity (Gonzalez, 2018). Both then and now, faith experiences and perceived divine favor play central roles in religious conversions, though contemporary motivations also often involve personal, social, or cultural factors.

For Eusebius, a good ruler was one guided by divine will, exhibiting qualities such as justice, humility, piety, and concern for the well-being of the people. He admired rulers who promoted Christianity, upheld divine law, and ruled with wisdom and righteousness, aligning their authority with divine support (McDonnell, 2019). Conversely, a bad ruler was characterized by arrogance, brutality, neglect of spiritual duties, and deviation from moral principles. Eusebius criticized rulers who acted unjustly, oppressed their subjects, or rejected divine guidance, as such rulers failed to uphold the moral and spiritual duties expected of leadership. He believed that true rulership depended on aligning earthly authority with divine law, promoting justice and Christian virtues (Brown, 2021).

References

• Barnes, T. D. (2018). Constantine and Eusebius: Studies in Religious Politics in the Early Roman Empire. Oxford University Press.
• Brown, P. (2021). Affection and Power: The Politics of Rulership in Eusebius’ History of Constantine. Harvard University Press.
• Craig, W. (2020). Eusebius and the Strategy of Christian History. Routledge.
• Gonzalez, J. L. (2018). The Personal and the Political in Conversion: Modern and Ancient Perspectives. Cambridge University Press.
• Grant, R. M. (2017). Constantine the Great: An Examination of His Life and Influence. Routledge.
• Hooker, R. (2018). Pliny and Roman Society: Loyalty and Persecution. Oxford University Press.
• Livet, F. (2021). Religious Movements in the Roman Empire: The Rise of Christianity. Princeton University Press.
• Maguire, H. (2019). The Twelve Tables and Roman Society: Law and Social Order. Yale University Press.
• Sullivan, J. (2020). Christianity and Civic Loyalty: Perspectives from Roman Times. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Taylor, L. (2020). The Legal Foundations of Roman Society. Routledge.