Roman Guys (Gender Neutral Term)
Highly important figure in popularising monasticism. In around 270, decides to withdraw from human society and lives in several locations in the Egyptian desert. Famous in his time, he is made a protoype of the monastic cause by Athanasius, who immortalized him as a saint. Model of monasticism that he represents a route to sanctity that does not involve martyrdom. Lives over 100 and becomes a supporter of the Nicene cause.
St. Anthony the Great
Also known as Gundeshapur, and literally means “Shapur’s city that is better than Antioch”. Shapur transfers a lot of the prisoners-of-war he captured here. As Gondeshapur, becomes great medical city of the early Islamic world (where doctors are largely East Syrian Christians).
Weh-Andiyok-Shapur
In which Justinian defeats the Goths, and Italy is destroyed in the process over almost two decades (430s-450s). The Byzantines control a lot of Italy but do not acquire Italian wealth like they had hoped. Italy is hereafter no longer the heart of the Roman empire. Procopius is our main source for all the details of it.
Gothic War
A massive achievement that brings together all codes of laws and places them in context of the eastern Roman empire. Supersedes Gregorian Code and other earlier law codes, and is written in Latin. Gets replaced in a century by the Justinianic Code. Because it is compiled while there is still a western empire, it becomes Roman law in the West (while Justinianic Code doesn’t become major part of western law until 12th century).
Theodosian Code
New nomadic confederation that appears on the scene at the end of Justinian’s rule. Like the Huns before them, this group becomes appealing to Justinian to be mobilised against other tribes. They conquer most of the Balkans. Romans can’t do much about it because they are over-extended with the Persians. Slavs become largely subordinated to this group and have relationship of providing agricultural products to them.
Avars
Pulcheria
Theodosius’ sister. Becomes very powerful at court and plays a key role in many events of the time, such as Church Disputes. Eventually is the key figure behind Chalcedon (after her brother dies and she marries Marcian so that he can become emperor).
Hagia Sophia
A Church in Constantinople with a massive dome that Justinian built. Previous Hagia Sophia burned down in the Nika riots. Was largest Christian church for a millennium. Indicative of change in church architectural style away from basilicas and toward rounder/squarer buildings with domes.
The Justinianic Plague
There is a big debate about how bad the plague was. Maximalists argue that it killed ⅓ of the population. It starts in Egypt, spreads in Eastern Mediterranean, and then spreads across France and England, and South Germany. Beginning of two-century period in which plagues reoccurrences of the Bubonic plague are a recurring issue every ten or fifteen years.
Antiochene Exegesis/Christology
Exegesis of the Bible that eschews allegory and prefers literal interpretations. Important because the createdness of Jesus presents implications for the nature of salvation. Major proponents include Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius. An Antiochene exegesis of the Nicene creed lives on in the Church of the East thereafter.
Ostrogoths
Group from Hunnic confederacy. It is debated whether the Ostrogoths were largely ethnic “goths” and how much of a role assimilation into Gothicness played for them. It seems that at least some Romans became Goths in Theoderic’s Italy. During Theoderic’s conquests there is more background narrative added to gothic identity.
Belisarios
Great general of Justinian. Started career on Eastern frontier against the Persians, and then killed tens of thousands in Nika revolt. Thereafter, conquers Tunisia and then much of Italy. His deeds chronicled by Procopius who was on his staff – Procopius largely positive about him in the Wars but makes fun of him a lot as “emasculated” in Secret History.
Relief at Naqsh-e-Rostam
Of Valerian captured in battle. This was erected at a place of ancient Persian kingship, and is a monument to the glory of Persians over the Romans. (This was part of the ‘crisis’ of the third century)
Siege of Constantinople
In 626. A failed siege in which the Avars, Slavs, (both from European side) and Persians (from Asian side) besiege Constantinople. Heraclius does not return to defend the city and continues to advance. Miraculously, Constantinople's walls manage to hold, because the Persians are unable to cross the Bosporus due to the Byzantine navy and help besiege the city’s walls. Victory is attributed/dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Constantinople then on is cited as a city protected by the Virgin.
Monoenergism/Monotheletism
Idea that “let’s not talk about Christ’s nature. Christ had one energy/will that was unified, human-divine.” Promoted by Emperor Heraclius. Failed to unite people. Maronites continue to support Monothelete beliefs through the 11th century in Lebanon.
Clovis
Childeric’s son. The Franks, under Clovis, try to make themselves up in Roman fashion. Clovis takes over Northern Gaul and defeats Gundobad and the Burgundians in Southern Gaul. Later, goes to war with the Visigoths. The seat of his kingdom lay in Paris. He becomes a public Nicene Christian by getting baptized in the Cathedral of Reims by the bishop there, making him the first non-Arian Barbarian king (and gaining him Byzantine support against the Visigoths). Looked back on as first “French” king and starts Merovingian dynasty. At his death, his sons split his kingdom (which largely equates to modern France).
Melania the Younger
Elite Roman woman from an old senatorial family in Jerome’s circle; major one of his patrons. Jerome eventually writes a saint’s life (hagiography) about her. Although she is married, she and her husband decides to become monastics. She donates all her money away (HUGE quantities). Goes to Palestine with Jerome. Founds monasteries in Palestine and Italy. Elite patrons like Melania became a key part of the foundation for Christian institutions because the money that they give is inalienable from these institutions.
Seleucia-Ctesiphon
City on the Tigris River in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). Parthian Persian capital was placed here. It then became the Sasanian capital and a great city of the early medieval world. Baghdad would be founded quite near it.
Vandal Conquest of Carthage
The Vandals, after having accrued power in North Africa, take Tunisia (439). This is a key loss of wealth for Rome, and is commonly the event that scholars point to as the beginning of the end of the Roman empire. (At this point, the Western Roman empire is much weaker) A Vandal kingdom exists in North Africa until Justinian reconquest. Note that the Vandals are Arians who persecuted Nicene Christians.
Cenobitic Monasticism
Organized monastic life where monks live together in an intentional community (Greek root of cenobitic is koinos bios, “common life”. Life is highly structured, often dictated by a rule and by strict ideas of hierarchy. Idea first created by Pachomius but then becomes basis for monasteries as they spread across Christian world.
Shapur I
Sasanian figure who wreaked massive damage against the Romans. Sacked Dura, captured Valerian, persecuted Christians, conquered much of Persian gulf. Made Pahlavi (Middle Persian) the court language of the Sasanian court. Did population transfers, such as creating the city of Weh-Andiyok-Shapur in Khuzistan from people deported from Antioch after he sacked it.
Anastasius
Reigns 491-518. Emperor after Zeno’s death – at this point, there is no longer a Western Roman empire. He had been a middling Roman bureaucrat, chosen as a short term solution to fill the throne when he was already in his 60s (but ends up ruling for 30 years). He is remembered as a classic Roman administrative emperor. Builds up Roman treasury by implementing coin reform. (Reforms copper coinage and standardises weights of copper coins) Encourages taxes to be paid in coins rather than in kind. Promotes a money economy. Under him, major war with Persians begins again for first time in over a century (first of many conflicts in 6th century).
Constantinople
Constantine creates this city as his “New Rome,” which becomes his (and thereafter, THE eastern Roman capital). It’s also an important port at the Bosporus straits between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. Gives out free food to incentivise people to come. Also incentivises elites to come and settle by other means, including foundation of a new senate (modeled after the ancient Roman Senate).
Council of Chalcedon
Within the East, this was the site of the major schism in 451. It declares the 449 council null and void. This council takes Christ to have two natures, God and human alike. Some version of Antiochean Christology is adopted. It also claims to be agreeing with Cyril. Miaphysite/Dyophysite split happens after this (Dyophysites = Chalcedonians). Never gets solved although many try.
Corpus Juris Civilis
Corpus of civil law. Consists of the Digest (writings of Roman Jurists), the Justinianic Code (laws), Institutes (legal textbook), all of which were written in Latin. Additionally contains Justinian’s Novels (new laws) in Greek. This is a revision of legal thinking writ large, and forms the basis of law into the present day. This is the most enduring achievement of Justinian’s reign. (Compare this with law in the West, where Theodosian Code was the basis for law up until the twelfth century)
Khusro II
Persian emperor who makes a deal with Maurice and makes peace between the Persians and the Byzantines, getting officially adopted by Maurice. Uses Maurice’s death as pretext for further war. Has great success in war against Phokas and then Heraclius during last great war of antiquity for 25 years (conquering all of Anatolia, Syria, Egypt), until disastrous defeat in 626 in Constantinople then in 627 in Nineveh causes his son to overthrow and kill him.