In the 500 years from Constantine the city of Rome changed from being the capital of an Empire to the being the seat of the Papacy. Our historical sources speak of saints like Augustine and St. Jerome, but also of the wars of the Goths and Byzantines, the Langobards and the increasing importance of the papacy und the coronation of Charlemagne as emperor of a new Roman Empire, painting the image of a time of great change. The archaeology of the city of Rome in the last 40 years has done a lot to help us understand how the changing fortunes affected the people of Rome actually living in the city. We will be looking at what we now know about this ‘new’ Rome.
1 May: Constantine and his family: how to create a world of churches and princesses
8 May: From Valentinian to the puppet emperors – how to demote a capital
15 May: Keeping busy: The archaeology of the 5th century of Rome
22 May: Halfterm
29 May: The coming of the Germans – Gothic rule and the Papacy
5 June: The Wars of the 6th c. Romans, Goths, Byzantines and the great destruction?
12 June: The archaeology of the 6th century in Rome.
19 June: The situation around 700-800. Byzantines, Langobards and the rising power of the Franks
Please note all lectures will be recorded and distributed to the participants at the beginning of the next week. This should allow participants from different time zones, or those working to catch up with the lectures.
