The Church and the Roman Empire (301–490): Constantine, Councils, and the Fall of Rome

Reclaiming Catholic History #2

by Mike Aquilina

Suspense, politics, sin, death, sex, and redemption: Not the plot of the latest crime novel, but elements of the true history of the Catholic Church.

Larger-than-life saints such as Athanasius of Alexandria, Jerome, Augustine, and political figures such as Emperor Constantine played an important part in the history of the Christianity. In The Church and the Roman Empire (301–490): Constantine, Councils, and the Fall of Rome, popular Catholic author Mike Aquilina gives readers a vivid and engaging account of how Christianity developed and expanded as the Roman Empire declined.

In The Church and the Roman Empire (301–490), Mike Aquilina explores the dramatic backstory of the Council of Nicaea and why Christian unity and belief are still expressed by the Nicene Creed. He also sets the record straight about commonly held misconceptions about the Catholic Church. Readers may be surprised to learn:

The Edict of Milan didn’t just legalize Christianity; it also established religious tolerance for all faiths for the first time in history. The growth of Christianity inspired a more merciful society: Crucifixion was abolished; the practice of throwing prisoners to wild beasts for entertainment was outlawed; and slave owners were punished for killing their slaves. Controversy between Arians and Catholics may have resulted in building more hospitals and other networks of charitable assistance to the poor. When Rome fell, not many people at the time noticed.

Aquilina brings Church history to life in The Church and the Roman Empire, enabling Catholics to more deeply consider the true origins of the creed that unites us, the Bible we read, and the liturgy we celebrate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Catholic, History

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2019

About the author

Mike Aquilina is author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church, The Mass of the Early Christians, and A Year with the Church Fathers. He has co-hosted eight series that air on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has co-authored books with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., and theologian Scott Hahn. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He appears weekly on Sirius Radio's "Sonrise Morning Show." Mike and his wife, Terri, have six children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things.

In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.

His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.

Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brand new history series is just what I've been wanting — truthful Catholic history that's easy to read and that busts some of the ubiquitous myths about Catholicism. Author Mike Aquilina keeps the history easy to understand while adding depth to the bits that I already knew ... or thought I knew.

Occasional "Up Close and Personal" boxes showcase different personalities or aspects of Christianity from that time, such as looking at the Catholic bishop before Patrick or listing five who chucked everything for a life of solitude. "You Be the Judge" boxes examine common questions and set the record straight on topics like "Didn't Christianity harm the status of women?" or "Do Christians exaggerate the persecutions?"

One of Aquilina's strengths is the way that he makes the scenes come alive. Here's a bit from the Council of Nicaea.

It was a grand spectacle to see so many bishops at once, and the general public filled the spectators' areas to listen to some of the preliminary debates. Even pagan philosophers joined the fun—some out of genuine curiosity, others to make fun of the Christians. People from town came just to see the parade of bishops of all nations. Even Scythia, exotic land of barbarian cowboys, and Persia, traditional enemy of Rome for generations, were represented. ...

And of course everyone wanted a glimpse of the two men who had started the whole uproar, Arius and Alexander. Alexander, a frail old man who needed help to get around, was a bit of a disappointment, although his young archdeacon and assistant Athanasius looked like a man to watch. But Arius was a rock star. he was tall, a good speaker, and a very thoughtful-looking man. Fangirls followed him wherever he went. He must have something to say.

It really makes me feel the excitement in the air. Very much not the way I usually think of the Council of Nicaea!

Highly recommended. I can't wait for the other books in the series to be published.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book published in a new series, Reclaiming Catholic History, though it is the second book in the series. The series is being edited by Mike Aquilina and this first published volume is by him as well. About this series we are told:

“The history of the Catholic Church is often clouded by myth, misinformation, and missing pieces. Today there is a renewed interest in recovering the true history of the Church, correcting the record in the wake of centuries of half-truths and noble lies. Books in the Reclaiming Catholic History series, edited by Mike Aquilina and written by leading authors and historians, bring Church history to life, debunking the myths one era at a time.”

And if the others are nearly as good we are in for 7 excellent volumes. I could hardly put this book down. I spent the better part of 25 years in university, bouncing around schools, and disciplines. I did religious studies courses at both Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and at The University of Waterloo. I graduated with a focus on Roman Catholic Thought. I know this series is being written for a general readership, but I would have loved to have had this book as part of required or recommended reading for a first-year course. The book ends with these words form Mike:

“Since this book is aimed at a nonacademic audience, I’ve tried to keep my citations very simple. The original translations can easily be found at the sites mentioned above. I hope many readers will be inspired to pursue the texts and read the original translations in context.”

But I really believe it would be an excellent course book. But it is written in such a way that any Catholic, any Christian or anyone interested in the history could pick it up and read it with ease. It is not just easy to read it is very engaging. I know much of the history but Aquilina brought it to life in a new way. I was surprised a few times, and laughed more than once.

The sections in the book are:

Introduction
The Underground
The Revolution
Nicaea
The Empire Christianized
Pope Constantius
The Counterrevolution
The Christian Empire and Beyond
A Tale of Two Bishops
An Age of Titans
Decline and Fall
A Lamp in the Twilight
The End
Acknowledgments
Notes

But each chapter also has two extra sections, Up Close and Personal and You Be The Judge. These sections can appear anywhere in the chapter. The first tends to focus on people, and the second on myths or opinions.

The book was educational, entertaining, and very enjoyable. It is one of those books I would love to put in the hands of friends and family. And with Mike as the editor of the series I am sure the subsequent volumes will be just as good. It was a wonderful read, and I am already waiting in eager anticipation for the next volume in the series!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Mike.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I hoped, this installation in the series is more cohesive than the first book. It begins the same with the introduction stating that the authors and compilers have worked to ensure the history covers as much as possible while making it comprehensible. There is overlap with the first book, including a brief overview of events after the first Pentecost and how/why Christianity spread so quickly.
There seem to be fewer side sections (‘Up Close & Personal’ and ‘Be the Judge’) and they actually fit with the current or next page’s content.

Aquilina better describes why pagans were turned on to Christianity, especially after Christians helped the sick during plagues. Meanwhile, even pagan families didn’t help their sick loved ones.

Then Antonius started randomly persecuting Christians, and Decius forced the hand of the first “lapsed” Christians.
We learn how Constantine came to be emperor and eventually ended up in charge. He had his issues but worked to ensure religious freedom and Christian morals (including through the Edict of Milan). We get information on Eusebius of Caesarea, and the different heresies & schisms Constantine had to face. One of them was Arianism, which denied that God and Jesus are the same being. Arius was prompted by Eusebius of Nicomedia, who was a scheming triple-crossing man.

I learned that there are many saints and known figures from that time because of how philosophy, rhetoric, and philosophical debates were the norm in Alexandria as well as other places.

Athanasius helped Constantine a lot and wanted to be true to the values of Catholicism. Around this time, the Nicene Creed truly solidified in people’s minds.

Constantine II and Constantius, two of Constantine’s sons, were at odds with each other and were part of the cause of the East and West splitting.Or, at least, that’s what I got out of that. The latter in particular thought that because he was emperor, his word was canon law, that he WAS the Church.

Ammianus Marcellinus’ writings are mentioned a bit, despite him being pagan. It sounds like he was a fair person. He was friends with Julian though, who ended up taking over, declaring himself pagan, and forbade Christians from teaching grammar, rhetoric, or philosophy. The problem was that his notions of paganism were fantasy and never reality. So he wanted his people to have Christian morals while favoring multiple gods. He confused people.

Sts. Gregory Nazianzen and Basil are discussed. So is the fact that Christianity has been pro-women, and many of the first known martyrs were female. Some were educated and many wrote as popular authors and poets.

Theodosius made paganism illegal.
Jerome was accused of being a womanizer but wasn’t, and though he may not have been the best people person overall, he was a fantastic rhetorician, teacher, and translator. I enjoyed learning a bit more information about what he had to face over the two decades he worked on the translation of the Bible, including why certain books were included.

Ambrose and Augustine are mentioned. I love the explanation as to how Augustine essentially developed autobiography as we know the genre today.
Then there was the heresy of Mary not being the mother of God.

The issues emperors had with Goths and other German tribes are mentioned multiple times. Then we end with Leo the Great somehow turning away Attila the Hun even as the Western Empire fell apart and entered “the Dark Ages”of the invading Germanic tribes in Rome and Africa. Yet Christianity thrived as it spread to Europe and as monasteries preserved Western literature. What surprised me is that books weren’t rare even in the late 400s.

The end is beautiful: “[...] wherever there was a church, wherever there was a mone=astery, a lamp was burning in the darkness.”

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being a relatively short book, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth found here. The author made this book enjoyable to read. It is not just another boring history of the church, as so many books are. This one gives you an insider's view on the history of those involved in making decisions for the church, the ensuing differences of opinion and lets you feel like you are part of the action, getting into the heads of the major players.

This book is factual, and yet the author still found a way to make it amusing. It would be good for people just learning the history of the church, but also as entertainment for those who already know the basic facts. I'm always happy when an author finds a way to make history exciting and this book definitely falls into that category.

Recommended.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simply-written but lively history which dispels many myths about the early Christians, and includes lots of interesting characters and saints, such as Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine. Aquilina explains the fight between true Christianity and heresies, such as Arianism, and gives a clear account of the several councils. He tells the history as if it is a story, at times, making the different characters have conversations.



One myth concerns transubstantiation. According to Aquilina, the early Christians all believed in the Real Presence, and there were no arguments against it. I found this especially interesting.



This book isn't like a textbook at all, and I will be keen to read the rest of the series, and more about some of the famous Christians mentioned in the book.



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really makes the history of the Catholic Church and Christianity come alive. The reader will feel like they are watching a movie. Their is intrigue, fighting, and lots of decisions being made. I didn't realize till I read this book how important the bishops were in the early church. Also, how the Nicene Creed came to be, and that Under the emperor Theodosius, Catholic Christianity was made a state religion. The debate with the Arians over weather or not Jesus was one in the Father. The Roman emperors were continually involved in the conflict. A couple of them said that each belief would have the freedom to worship as they wanted. This book is full of rich history of the Catholic Church and is very hard to put down.

[Heather Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is a beginner to Church history, this series has been an exciting eye-opener. I’ve often heard of various heresies and subsequent ecumenical councils that were convened to clear them up, but it was difficult to keep all of them straight. “The Church and the Roman Empire” lays everything out in easy to understand language with a dramatic flair. There is nothing dry about this series.

“The Church and the Roman Empire (301–490): Constantine, Councils, and the Fall of Rome” by Mike Aquilina is the 2nd book in the Reclaiming Catholic History series. At least I think it is since chronologically it comes after “The Early Church (33–313): St. Peter, the Apostles, and Martyr.” “The Church and the Roman Empire” was published first, however and is available now!

In “The Church and the Roman Empire” we also meet Constantine and the Roman rulers and Bishops that followed. From the time Christianity was legalized we take many historical twists and turns to the fall of Rome. I enjoyed learning about the personalities of historical figures as well as the ways in which they affected history.

The book moves at a brisk pace which keeps things exciting. Yet the author offers enough information to give us what we need to know. I enjoyed the chronological telling of this series, but the books could certainly be read out of order. They can easily stand alone. Anyone who enjoys history will enjoy “The Church and the Roman Empire.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Ave Maria Press for providing me with ARC of “The Church and the Roman Empire” in exchange for an honest review.”

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much Appreciated!

I recommend this book to anyone (Catholic or not) who is hungry for true, authentic Church history. It is very readable, even for a plain old guy like me. I am a 70 year old cradle Catholic that did not go to a Catholic school growing up. I love my Catholic faith, support my parish, pray for our bishops and priests, pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chapter everyday, and pray that I will go to Heaven. But I did not know Church History. I am grateful for this incredible work.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an easy and entertaining read. It is a great introduction to this period of history. Mike Aquilina expertly weaves together historical stories in an engaging way. It was a hard book to put down, being full of life and action. The Catholic author has clear opinions on many of the events and topics this book covers. In saying this, as a Protestant reader I found this short book interesting and informative.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book, well written and fascinating.
I think that the last centuries of the Roman Empire are fascinating and this well researched book helped me to discover some new details.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Flocarine · Rating 4 out of 5]

... a very interesting book about the Roman Empire - fascinating.and well written. I live in a city where you can find a lot of Roman stuff, everywhere you dig there are Romans =) I discovered a few new things and I liked to read it. Highly recommended!

Note 2 or A-

[BoB Lever · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the “Reclaiming Catholic History” series, this book is informative and easy to read. There were a number of topics that I was familiar with, yet had more details explained in this reading.