GRST 347: Key Terms

• GRST 347 Study Topics

Part 1: Key Terms to Define and Explain the Significance Of

• Hypatia: A philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in Roman Egypt, who challenged early Christian doctrines.
• Parthian Empire: A major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Iran and Mesopotamia from 247 BC to 224 AD.
• Sasanian Empire: The last Iranian empire before the rise of Islam, ruling from 224 to 651 AD.
• Hellenism: The historical spread of ancient Greek culture and, to a lesser extent, language, over foreign peoples conquered by Greeks or brought into their sphere of influence.
• The Good Emperors: A term that refers to the five Roman emperors who presided over the most majestic days of the Roman Empire, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.
• Mystery Cults: Religious schools of the Greco-Roman world for which participation was reserved to initiates.
• Mithraism Synagogue: A mystery religion centered on the god Mithras that was popular in the Roman Empire, associated with a specific place to worship.
• Iwan: A rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open.
• Dura Europos: A Hellenistic, Roman, and Parthian border city built on a high bluff above the right bank of the Euphrates River.
• Decius: Roman emperor who reigned from 249 to 251 AD.
• Catacombs: Underground burial places.
• Seleucia Ctesiphon: Twin cities that served as the capital of the Parthian and Sasanian empires
• Diocletian: Roman emperor from 284 to 305 AD.
• Constantine: Roman emperor whose reign ushered in a period of religious tolerance in the Roman Empire
• Arianism: A nontrinitarian Christian belief that asserts that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, created by God the Father, distinct from the Father and therefore subordinate to Him.
• Helena: The mother of Emperor Constantine and a key figure in the history of Christianity.
• Relics: Physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other religious figure preserved for purposes of veneration as a tangible memorial.
• Edict of Milan: A proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire
• Julian: Roman emperor from 361 to 363 AD, and a notable philosopher and author in Greek.
• Battle of Adrianople: A battle fought in 378 AD, in which the Visigoths decisively defeated a Roman army.
• Monasticism: A religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work.
• Ambrose of Milan: A bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century.
• Pilgrimage: A journey to a holy place.

Part 2: Essay Question Themes

• Challenges and problems with the creation of Late Roman history.
• Problems facing the Late Antique emperors between 170-284.
• Roman views of Christianity and Christian presentations of themselves.
• The causes of the emperor wide persecutions.
• The role of the Sasanians and Parthians in Late Antiquity.
• The significance of Constantine.
• The development of Christian identity in a Roman context (hint: think architecture).
• The rise of the Germanic groups.