Lecture 6
The Fall of Rome In
Modern Imagination
& And how the moral narrative as
explanation seems to triumph
Contents:
1. Viewing the Fall (or Continuity) of the Roman
Empire Through the Ages
2. The ‘Moral Decline Narrative’ in Western Culture
3. The Fall of Rome in Cinema
Introduction
In the PowerPoint Martijn Icks shows some examples of how the idea of the Fall
of the Western Roman Empire still lives on in our culture and society today.
Today we will focus on the questions:
- Why did the Fall of Rome become so iconic?
- How did this notion develop?
- What role does the Fall of Rome play in our modern Western culture?
HC6
, Viewing the Fall (or
Continuity) of the Roman
Empire Through the Ages
(Christian) Views on Decline of Rome
During Ancient Empire (RECAP)
Two Different Christian Contemporary Responses on the Decline (and specifically on
the Sack of Rome of 410 by Alaric and the Visigoths) are:
OROSIUS: downplayed the sack of Rome in 410. He said: “It can’t be blamed on the
Christians. Just a minor hiccup in Roman History. Not even close to those other
horrible times earlier like the time Nero! Nothing to see here move along people. As
far as sacks go, this was just a gentile sack. Also, the romans deserved it anyway.
Why does Orosius say this? It’s his response to contemporary pagans
saying: “All this horrible stuff is happening because the Christians! All because
the Romans forsook the old Gods. Sack and decline is fault of Christianity!”
Another idea that Orosius discussed is the idea that the Roman Empire was an instrument
of God. God had wanted the Roman Empire. Why would God want this? Because when the
Roman Empire started with he first Emperor Augustus in 27 BC, the Pax Romana was established
–2 centuries of peace and stability in a very large area– which, according to Orosius, made it
possible for the Apostles to relatively peacefully and widely spread Christianity.
ST. AUGUSTUS: said the proper Christian does not care about earthly human
kingdoms/empires (like Rome), but should only care with the heavenly kingdom of
God and saving one’s soul from damnation. The fall of Rome does not matter.
HC6
The Fall of Rome In
Modern Imagination
& And how the moral narrative as
explanation seems to triumph
Contents:
1. Viewing the Fall (or Continuity) of the Roman
Empire Through the Ages
2. The ‘Moral Decline Narrative’ in Western Culture
3. The Fall of Rome in Cinema
Introduction
In the PowerPoint Martijn Icks shows some examples of how the idea of the Fall
of the Western Roman Empire still lives on in our culture and society today.
Today we will focus on the questions:
- Why did the Fall of Rome become so iconic?
- How did this notion develop?
- What role does the Fall of Rome play in our modern Western culture?
HC6
, Viewing the Fall (or
Continuity) of the Roman
Empire Through the Ages
(Christian) Views on Decline of Rome
During Ancient Empire (RECAP)
Two Different Christian Contemporary Responses on the Decline (and specifically on
the Sack of Rome of 410 by Alaric and the Visigoths) are:
OROSIUS: downplayed the sack of Rome in 410. He said: “It can’t be blamed on the
Christians. Just a minor hiccup in Roman History. Not even close to those other
horrible times earlier like the time Nero! Nothing to see here move along people. As
far as sacks go, this was just a gentile sack. Also, the romans deserved it anyway.
Why does Orosius say this? It’s his response to contemporary pagans
saying: “All this horrible stuff is happening because the Christians! All because
the Romans forsook the old Gods. Sack and decline is fault of Christianity!”
Another idea that Orosius discussed is the idea that the Roman Empire was an instrument
of God. God had wanted the Roman Empire. Why would God want this? Because when the
Roman Empire started with he first Emperor Augustus in 27 BC, the Pax Romana was established
–2 centuries of peace and stability in a very large area– which, according to Orosius, made it
possible for the Apostles to relatively peacefully and widely spread Christianity.
ST. AUGUSTUS: said the proper Christian does not care about earthly human
kingdoms/empires (like Rome), but should only care with the heavenly kingdom of
God and saving one’s soul from damnation. The fall of Rome does not matter.
HC6
