Gibbon and Constantine

"A subject which may be examined with impartiality, but cannot be viewed with indifference." Thus Gibbon on the growth of Christianity under Constantine, a topic to which he devotes much of Vol. 2 of his magnum opus. 

Constantine, from Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine; now at Capitoline Museum in Rome.

It is a fascinating subject, and one about which I am largely ignorant, although I think I now have a bit better grasp of it. So far, these four things have struck me from Gibbon's treatment:

1 Constantine's superb political cunning, in the best (or at least not in the worst) sense of that term. The official recognition of Christianity was but one of his significant achievements.

2 The appeal of the ancient sources. Gibbon's narrative never fails to send me back to the relevant ancient writers with a renewed interest in the ancient world. I know very little about this period of antiquity, so to read Eusebius's Life of Constantine (I'm using the version in the clickable pic below) or Ammianus Marcellinus' Roman History is like discovering a new world.

Fascinating.

3 The numerous sects of early Christianity that were branded as heretical and whose followers were  accordingly treated without mercy. Gibbon does his best to treat these sects seriously and with justice, although at times he seems a bit exasperated by the minuteness of the theological points upon which they refused to yield. 

4 How little things have changed since the 4th century AD. Politics is still a treacherous and deceitful game. And the narcissism of small differences still drives much human behavior. As they say, Plus ça change...


To do this story justice without overwhelming the reader with details and in language that engages and entertains is just one of Gibbon's many impressive accomplishments.

BYOT (bring your own Trinity) Party at Nicaea (325 AD)