Society & Status

Decline of old status markers
o Citizenship unimportant (212 ->)
o Changes in nomenclature
 M. Tullius Cicero —> Aurelius Augustinus
o Roman Senate marginalized
o Old offices (e.g. consul) merely nominal

New developments
o 2 classes: Honestiores vs. Humiliores
o Rise of provincial elites (Gaul, Spain etc.)
o New offices
 1) Prefect of Rome
 2) Praetorian Prefect (Gaul, Italy, East)
o More bureaucracy (e.g. legal codes)

Pomp & Circumstance
o Accessus: staged arrival of dignitary
o Panegyric: speech in praise of dignitary

Education
o Ausonius (c. 310-after 393)
o Augustine (354-430)

Church & State

303-311 "Great" Persecution
312 Conversion of Constantine
313 Edict of Milan
361/3 Pagan reaction under Julian
394 Theodosius crushes pagan revolt

Council of Nicaea, 325
o Emperor attempts to reconcile factions
o Nicene Creed

St. Ambrose (340-397)
o Administrative career
o Elected bishop of Milan, 374
o Conflict w/ Emperor Theodosius, 388/90

Women in Late Antiquity

Continuity & Change

Christianity & Women
o OT Exempla: positive & negative
o Sin/Salvation: Eve —> Mary
o St. Paul: chastity over marriage
o Exaltation of virginity (St. Jerome, Letter 22)

Texts by Women
o Passion of Perpetua
o Egeria (late 4th c.): Spanish (?) nun & pilgrim