Art at the Dawn of Christ

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

With Constantine the Great’s embrace of Christianity in 312 CE, the Mediterranean region underwent profound transformations. Yet the period of Late Antiquity (ca. 235–700 CE) entailed more than the rise of new world religions: it also saw mass movements of people, goods, and ideas and witnessed the collapse and creation of powerful political empires. This course investigates the equally dramatic changes in the visual and material cultures of the late antique Mediterranean as forms of monotheism, with urgent theological concerns to communicate and varying prohibitions on image-making in place, spread. It explores a wide range of creative expressions, from sacred manuscripts, mosaics, and architectural monuments to household textiles, dining silver, and glassware. We will also consider how confessional and ethnic identities, as well as political allegiances, shaped art and urbanism in the Mediterranean at this dynamic and at times volatile historical moment. No prerequisites or prior knowledge of art history are required for this course.