PART 1 –The Birth of Two Empires – Constantine The Great - GameChanger series
Summary
TLDRThe video explores the life of Constantine the Great, a pivotal figure in Roman history who transformed the empire and merged it with a new religion. Born in Nis, Serbia, under humble circumstances, he rose to power and left an indelible mark on history. The narrative also juxtaposes his story with that of Jesus, whose teachings clashed with Roman authority, setting the stage for a profound 'clash of empires.' The video delves into the cultural and religious impact of these two figures, questioning which empire—Rome or Christianity—would ultimately triumph.
Takeaways
- 🏛 Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who significantly influenced the world by merging his rule with the establishment of a new religion.
- 👶 Born in Nis, Serbia, under a cloud of illegitimacy, Constantine grew up to completely transform the Roman Empire.
- 🛣️ Nis, known as Naissus in Roman times, was a strategic crossroads between the East and West, which played a crucial role in Constantine's early life.
- 👨👩👦 Constantine was born to a humble village girl, Helena, and the Roman military tribune Flavius Constantius, who later became an important figure in his life.
- 📜 The script explores the lives of two significant figures, Constantine and Jesus, who both had humble beginnings and left lasting impacts on history.
- 🏰 Constantine's rise to power led to Nis becoming a major cultural, economic, and military center, with a luxurious Roman palace at its heart.
- 🌍 The Roman Empire was characterized by its remarkable stability and tolerance, with a vast infrastructure that facilitated trade and communication.
- ⛪️ Christianity was seen as a threat to the Roman Empire due to its refusal to participate in emperor worship and its prediction of the empire's fall.
- 🔥 The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD led to increased persecution of Christians, who were blamed by Emperor Nero for the disaster.
- 📖 The Bible's prophecies, such as in Daniel chapter 7, were interpreted by Romans as a direct challenge to their empire's authority.
- 📚 The program offers a booklet titled 'A Clash of Empires' for deeper insight into the historical conflict between Rome and Christianity.
Q & A
Who was Constantine the Great?
-Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who ruled an empire that lasted for centuries and had a significant impact on the world by merging political power with a new religion.
What significant event is associated with the town of Nish?
-The town of Nish is significant because it is the birthplace of Constantine the Great, who was born there under a cloud of illegitimacy to a humble village girl named Helena.
What was the ancient Roman name for the town of Nish?
-The ancient Roman name for the town of Nish was Naissus.
How did Constantine's father, Flavius Constantius, react when he learned about his son's existence?
-Flavius Constantius was delighted to learn about his son's existence and welcomed both Helena and Constantine into his home with open arms.
What was the social status of Helena, Constantine's mother?
-Helena was a peasant woman and the daughter of an innkeeper in Naissus (Nish).
How did Constantine's life change when he was brought to live with his father?
-Constantine's life changed dramatically when he moved from the small village of Naissus to live with his father, going from a peasant boy to being part of the highest circles of Roman society.
What was the term used by the Romans for legitimate religions?
-The Romans used the term 'religio' for legitimate religions, which is the origin of the English word 'religion'.
How did the Romans view Christianity initially?
-The Romans initially viewed Christianity with suspicion as it was a non-traditional and non-racial religion that did not belong to any specific country or race and was seen as filled with what they considered foolish ideas.
What was the term the Romans used for non-traditional and non-racial religions like Christianity?
-The Romans used the term 'superstitio' for non-traditional and non-racial religions like Christianity, which is the origin of the English word 'superstition'.
Why were Christians considered a threat to the Roman Empire?
-Christians were considered a threat to the Roman Empire because they refused to worship the emperor, which was seen as a rejection of the authority of the empire, and their beliefs and principles clashed with those of Rome.
What was the significance of the bridge Ponte Fabricio in Rome?
-The bridge Ponte Fabricio in Rome is significant because it is an example of Roman engineering and has been in continuous use since it was built, symbolizing the stability and permanence of the Roman Empire.
Outlines
🏛️ Constantine the Great: The Game Changer
The script begins with a dramatic introduction to Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor who had a profound impact on history by merging a new Rome with a new religion, creating an empire that lasted for centuries. The narrative then shifts to the town of Nish, Serbia, where Constantine was born to a humble village girl named Helena. The video script describes the ancient land of Israel and draws a parallel between the births of Constantine and another significant figure from history, Jesus Christ, who also changed the world. The story sets the stage for an exploration of the lives of these two men and the clash of empires that still resonates today.
🛌 The Birth of Constantine and His Early Life
This section delves into the story of Constantine's conception when his father, Flavius Constantius, a Roman military tribune, stayed at an inn in Nish and impregnated the innkeeper's daughter, Helena. The narrative describes how Constantius, feeling guilty, left a parting gift for Helena and instructions to protect any child that might result from their union. The story then jumps to Constantine's childhood and the revelation of his true parentage when Roman soldiers, having discovered his identity, informed Constantius of his son's existence. Helena and Constantine were subsequently welcomed into Constantius's home, marking a significant change in their lives.
👑 The Rise of Constantine and His Impact
The paragraph discusses Constantine's rise from a peasant boy to the position of Emperor of Rome. It highlights how his father, now a governor, took responsibility for him and his mother, integrating them into Roman high society. The script also mentions the educational efforts made for Constantine, who showed a keen aptitude for learning. The narrative then focuses on Constantine's legacy, emphasizing his role as a 'game changer' whose decisions and ideas had a lasting impact on the world. The video script also describes the archaeological site of Mediana, which was once Constantine's residence and a center of Roman culture, economy, and military strategy.
🌉 The Roman Empire and Its Religious Tolerance
This part of the script explores the Roman Empire's infrastructure and its policy of religious tolerance. It describes how the Romans built an extensive network of roads and bridges that facilitated trade and communication across their vast empire. The narrative also touches on the Pax Romana, the relative peace and stability within the empire, and the Romans' generally lenient approach to religious practices. However, it contrasts this with the special status of the Jews, who were exempt from emperor worship due to historical reasons, and the Christians, who refused to participate in such practices, setting the stage for conflict.
⚔️ Clash of Empires: Rome vs. Christianity
The script delves into the conflict between the Roman Empire and the emerging Christian faith. It outlines the Roman perspective on Christianity, viewing it as a non-traditional and potentially seditious belief system. The narrative highlights the differences between the established 'religio' of various cultures and the new faith that transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. The script also discusses the rumors and misconceptions about Christians that fueled Roman suspicion and hostility, leading to their persecution. The section concludes with the backdrop of the Great Fire of Rome, which marked a turning point in the relationship between Rome and Christianity.
📖 The Prophecies and the Future of the Clash
The final paragraph sets the stage for the continuation of the story, focusing on the prophecies in the Bible that foretell the rise and fall of empires, including Rome. It discusses the Christian beliefs that were seen as treasonous by the Romans and the growing influence of Christianity despite persecution. The script introduces a booklet titled 'A Clash of Empires' as a resource for further exploration of the topic and provides contact information for the audience to obtain it. The video ends with a prayer for guidance and strength in the face of life's challenges.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Constantine the Great
💡Roman Empire
💡Religion
💡Empire
💡Christianity
💡Clash of Empires
💡Pax Romana
💡Superstition
💡Nero
💡Prophecy
💡Conversion
Highlights
Constantine the Great built a new Rome and a new religion, merging them into an empire that lasted for centuries and changed the world.
The town of Nish, Serbia, is historically significant as the birthplace of Constantine the Great.
Constantine was born to a humble village girl, Helena, and grew up to rule an empire.
The ancient land of Israel is where another influential baby, Jesus, was born, who also changed the world.
The series explores the lives of two men whose influence still shapes our world today.
Flavius Constantius, Constantine's father, was a great Roman commander who defeated the Persians.
Constantius had a one-night encounter with Helena, which resulted in the birth of Constantine.
Constantine's life took a significant turn when he was recognized as the son of Constantius, leading to a life of luxury and education.
Constantine's education played a crucial role in his rise to become Emperor and shape the world.
Constantine never forgot his hometown, Nish, which developed into a major center during his reign.
The Roman Empire was known for its remarkable stability and religious tolerance.
Christianity was seen as a threat to the Roman Empire due to its refusal to worship the emperor.
Christians were accused of sedition and treason against the empire, leading to their persecution.
Despite persecution, Christianity continued to grow rapidly within the Roman Empire.
The program suggests a clash between the Roman Empire and Christianity, with significant implications for civilization.
The story of Constantine and the clash of empires is offered as a free booklet for interested viewers.
The program concludes with a prayer, emphasizing the importance of choosing Jesus and his rule in our lives.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Applause]
constantine the great
emperor of rome
caesar augustus
he built a new rome
and a new religion
he merged them into an empire that
lasted for centuries
and changed the world
this forever
authority and influence shift our world
this is his story
a story of romance
intrigue power
and conquest
constantine the great
game changer
this is the town of nish
right in the heart of serbia
and it's a very old town
in ancient times the romans called it
nicest
and it was right here some 1700 years
ago
that a baby was born under a cloud of
illegitimacy
to a very humble and insignificant
village girl
and that baby would grow up to rule an
empire and completely transform the
world
and this is the ancient land of israel
two thousand five hundred kilometers
away
where another even better known baby was
born some two thousand years ago to
another humble village girl
and that baby
also grew up to completely change the
planet undeniably to an extent unmatched
by any other child in history
in this series we'll be looking at these
two incredible men
men in whose shadow we still live today
their fingerprints are all over the
world
in fact they've shaped the way we live
the way we think and the way we believe
this is their story it's a story of how
their lives were destined to cross
and come together in an explosive clash
of empires
empires that span the ages and know no
boundaries
this clash of empires still reverberates
around our world today
[Music]
let's start with the first of these
powerful men
you may have heard his name though you
might not know much about why he matters
his name
was constantine
constantine the great
in the year a.d 271
a tied roman military tribune
flavius constantius
led his men back from fighting against
the summations
a large confederation of ancient
persians that had been slowly making
their way westward for centuries
eventually with the help of germanic
tribes like the goths
they started pushing into roman
territory
something the roman empire
couldn't allow
constantius was a great roman commander
and he had defeated the enemy decisively
and on his way back
he traveled the road that brought him
through nicest present-day niche
one of the oldest cities in the balkans
it's often called the gate of east and
west because it's located at the
crossing of important roads that connect
europe with the middle east and asia
it was a crossroads between the east and
the west
and was an ideal place to rest at least
for a night
and back then when constantia stopped
for the night it was already a thriving
centre with numerous houses buildings
and crucially an inn
and this inn becomes very important to
our story
you see rank and file soldiers
probably spent the night in a field next
to the village but not an important
officer like constantius
oh no
he secured lodgings at that local inn
probably the best one in town
there he could get a meal a good night's
sleep and something else that soldiers
sometimes look for when they're in town
a little company for the evening
according to the story
constantius asked the local innkeeper to
find him a female companion for the
night
now that might not have been an unusual
request
but how the innkeeper responded
was highly unusual
the innkeeper must certainly have been
extremely impressed by tribune flavius
constantius
because he did the unthinkable
he sent for his 16 year old virgin
daughter
her name
was helena
while he was sleeping later that night
constantius experienced a guilty
conscience about what he had done
his bad dreams that night made him fear
that he'd offended the gods because of
what he'd done with young helena
and so early the next morning he quickly
packed up and wasted no time in leaving
town and returning to his men
but just before he left as if to make
amends
he gave the innkeeper his purple
officers cape
which had a buckle with his initials on
it
and he told him to keep his daughter
safe and that if she bore a child
to protect that child as the apple of
his eye
and then constantius turned and left
probably thinking that he would never
see the young woman again
but what constantius didn't know
was that sixteen-year-old helena was in
fact pregnant
in due course
she gave birth to a son whom she named
constantine which means little
constantius
however his father had no idea little
constantine existed
and we don't know whether the boy knew
who his father was either
while constantine the peasant boy was
growing up in sleepy nicest
his father's life was taking a turn for
the better
constantius now 33 years old was
summoned by the roman emperor karus
and told that he was to be appointed the
governor of dalmatia
a region located in modern-day croatia
this was a huge promotion for
constantius because dalmatia was a key
roman territory
through it the empire controlled the
flow of trade between east and west
to be governor was an appointment where
you could easily get rich
it meant that constantius was on the way
up and going places
this could have been it for helena and
constantine a peasant mother and her
child
people like them
had no way of contacting the elite of
roman society like constantius
there was a vast social gulf between
them that couldn't be
bridged
but when constantine was nine years old
something happened that changed the
course of history
it was chance or maybe it wasn't
a group of roman cavalry
stopped to spend the night at that same
village inn at nicest
and in the morning when they came out to
the barn
they found young constantine teasing
their horses
they were so angry at this audacious
peasant boy that they started to beat
him
his mother now in her mid-20s
heard the commotion and came rushing out
of the house and into the barn
yelling at the soldiers stop it
don't you know who this is
he's the son of the governor
the soldiers looked at her stun
and then started laughing
how could this peasant woman's son
belong to the roman governor
do you take us for fools they said
she replied with
i swear by the gods that i'm telling the
truth
and then she told them the story
when she'd finished to prove it she ran
back to the house and brought back the
officer's cape that constantius had
given her all those years ago
imagine the panic those men must have
felt when they saw the governor's
initials on the buckle
they had indeed been beating the
governor's son
however instead of keeping quiet about
it the soldiers did the right thing
they went and told the governor that he
had a son in the village of nicest
and they told him that the boy was the
spitting image of his father
well the governor could have been
annoyed or he could have been delighted
in fact he was delighted and he sent for
helena and for his son
helena was now 26 years old
and she and the boy were welcomed into
the home of the governor with open arms
this must have been a huge culture shock
for this woman and son from the small
village
they only knew the small world and hard
life of nicest
and now they were in a palace with
marble columns gardens and luxurious
baths
they had landed in the highest circles
of roman society
flavius constantius even found helena
attractive enough to consider marrying
her
however roman law didn't allow
constantius to marry a peasant woman as
his full wife
the social divide was simply too great
but the law allowed for a lesser form of
marriage called matrimoniam concubinatum
this kind of marriage also gave his son
the full legal rights jewish son
particularly the rights of inheritance
so that's what constantius did
constantius also decided that his new
family needed to come up to standard in
certain areas like education
they were illiterate and could only
speak the local language and no latin or
greek
so constantius quickly appointed tutors
to start the work of teaching them both
to read and write
they both progressed in their studies
the boy constantine in particular took
quickly to education
and well he might
because he grew up to become emperor
and received the name constantine the
great whose ideas and bold decisions
shaped and transformed the world forever
making him a true
game changer
although the duties and responsibilities
as emperor took him away
constantine never forgot his hometown
during his reign
nicest developed into a major cultural
economic and military centre
based around a luxurious roman palace
decorated with magnificent mosaics and
monuments
he often resided here and attended two
state affairs including the passing of
several important laws
the imperial residence was also used by
constantine and six later roman emperors
as a place of rest on their long
journeys across the empire and also as a
place of solitude during preparations
for war
today
it's called mediana and is one of the
most important archaeological sites in
the region
it's covered by a great awning to help
preserve and protect it
archaeologists continue to meticulously
uncover its treasures and bring it to
life once again
remember i said we were going to talk
about two of the most important men in
all of history
well i'd like to consider now the other
one who was to become even more
important in shaping our civilization
than constantine himself
i'd like to start in the very center of
imperial power rome itself
this is ponte fabrizio
it's a bridge that connects two parts of
the city of rome over the tiber river
it's probably the oldest structure in
the neighborhood because it was built
some 60 years before the birth of jesus
christ
the fascinating thing about this bridge
is that it's been in continuous use
since it was built until this very day
it's a remarkable example of roman
engineering
you see the romans were builders
they built an entire international
infrastructure of roads bridges
aqueducts and so on
and all of this helped to weld together
the massive empire that they had built
this empire consisted of hundreds of
different cultures and nationalities
there were jews to the east barbarians
to the north
and the ancient civilizations of greece
persia and north africa
all in one empire that was remarkably
stable and peaceful
outside of the roman empire there was
always the threat of some invader or
another
but within the boundaries of the empire
it was generally safe and a pretty good
place to live
that's if you put aside the brutality of
the romans and the slavery and all that
but that's the price you paid for the
pax romana the roman peace
in return
from northern europe to north africa and
from spain to the far reaches of the
middle east people could count on roman
water roman roads and roman law
and compared to most of the societies of
the time
rome was remarkably tolerant in matters
of religion
people had almost total freedom as to
what god they worshipped and how
one of the reasons why this vast amalgam
of cultures
worked well for so long was that the
romans had a larger than life person at
the top
and that was
the emperor
as long as you respected him all would
be well
in fact you could worship whatever god
you pleased
as long as you also respected the deity
of the emperor
now of course people knew that the
emperor wasn't really a god but that
wasn't the point
the point was that he represented the
authority of rome
it wasn't really a big deal for the
people of that time
usually
all they had to do was offer a tiny
pinch of incense to the emperor once in
a while on special days like his
birthday and then you could go back to
your normal life
but the jews were an exception
they refused to offer the emperor their
worship because their holy book forbade
idolatry
and they were the only people in the
whole empire who were actually exempt
from offering incense to the emperor
that's because the jews had been very
helpful to julius caesar in the past and
in return he passed laws that excused
them from sacrificing to the emperor
forever
as long as they did one thing and that
was to pray for the emperor
but then there was another group of
people the christians
at first glance
the christians and the jews didn't seem
that different in fact for a while
people saw christianity as just one of
the various sects of
judaism but the romans soon found out
that with the christians
they were dealing with a whole new
kettle of fish
and it was one that they couldn't get
their heads around at all
you see you have to try to understand
christianity from the romans point of
view
the romans had no problem with all the
different religions of the empire to
them it was all very logical to
understand
each race or country had their own
religion the romans had their own
national religion and so did the
egyptians and the greeks and so on
so they could understand that the jews
had their own religion
these were all legitimate religions
because they were all ancient beliefs
that belonged to a specific culture it
was all neat and easy to understand
the word the romans gave to these
legitimate religions was religio
now the word sounds familiar because
that's where we get the english word
religion from
but christianity was very different
it had just burst on the scene seemingly
out of nowhere early in the first
century
it was a faith that didn't belong to any
specific country or race
people everywhere embraced it it knew no
boundaries
and the romans were deeply suspicious of
anything
that wasn't part of the established
order like that
and because it wasn't rooted in ancient
traditions and practices
it was filled with what the romans
considered were foolish ideas
its leader had been executed
and the romans thought that anyone who
made a hero out of a man who had been
crucified by roman law let alone call
him god
had to be both a lunatic and a traitor
but the christians didn't stop there
they went on to say that their leader
had risen from the dead
now the romans believed that death was
the end
no one ever came back from death
it was as we might say it scientifically
impossible
to them the idea was pure nonsense
it wasn't even in their roman myths
and what made it even worse
was that these christians
said that this crucified criminal was
coming back from heaven
to put an end to the whole roman empire
and establish his own eternal kingdom
that's what this sacred book the bible
predicted in its prophecies
it predicted the rise and fall of many
empires including rome
here's how the prophet daniel described
it in daniel chapter 7 and verse 14.
then to him was given dominion and glory
and a kingdom
that all peoples nations and languages
should serve him
his dominion is an everlasting dominion
which shall not pass away
and his kingdom
the one which shall not be destroyed
and then of course there was the lord's
prayer
that the christians were taught to pray
regularly
here's what it says in matthew chapter 6
verses 9 to 13.
our father in heaven hallowed be your
name
your kingdom come your will be done
for yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever
amen
to the roman mind
these kinds of ideas were seen as highly
treasonous in the extreme against the
empire
after all
the roman empire was intended to last
forever
and then to make matters worse
all sorts of false rumors swirled around
regarding what christians believed and
how they lived
they were accused of the most violent
evil practices
so this was another problem
the romans had a word for this kind of
non-traditional and non-racial religion
they called it superstitio
and if that sounds familiar to you
it's because it's where we get our
english word superstition
to the romans
christianity wasn't worthy to be classed
as a proper religion
it was just a lot of crazy superstitions
after all
the word was that this new faith had
been started by some uncivilized and
uneducated jewish teacher from the
backwater of palestine
to the romans that was laughable in
itself
so the romans considered christianity to
be seditious
treasonous against the empire
and positively harmful to the moral
fabric of society
this
was a clash of empires
a clash between rome and christianity
[Music]
all of which brings us to the other baby
who changed the world
he too was born under the shadow of the
roman empire
he too was born of humble peasant stock
in a small village
no one had ever heard of
he too
was born under a cloud of illegitimacy
his real father was also
far more powerful than anyone could have
imagined
he too was an unlikely king who changed
the world forever
his name
of course is jesus
jesus of nazareth
the very one
whom the christians worshiped as god
now the christians despite all the false
rumors about their beliefs were actually
good citizens in every sense
except for just one thing
for them
emperor worship was out of the question
their worship
was reserved for jesus alone
and when it came down to it to refuse to
worship the emperor was to reject the
authority of the empire itself
and that made them traitors
and as we know
the romans didn't take kindly to
traitors
it all came to a head in 1864
when a great fire broke out in rome
the roman population blamed their mad
emperor nero
and nero blamed the christians as a
convenient scapegoat
it's really amazing that this happened
only around 33 years or so after the
crucifixion of jesus
and already christianity had spread from
judea all the way to rome
in just a few years it had reached the
very heart of the empire
the new religion centered in jesus
christ was capturing the hearts and
minds of its citizens
and its beliefs values and principles
clash with those of rome
so it's no wonder that the romans
considered christianity a serious threat
to their empire
it was feared and hated and its
followers were persecuted
but the problem was the more christians
were persecuted the faster it grew
this truly was a clash of empires
the battle lines are set
we have the births of two babies with
amazing similarities
we have two men who are going to rule
two great empires
and in due time
their paths are destined to cross
and when these two empires collide
the results are going to be
incredible they will impact in ways that
will determine the very shape of our
civilization and how we act and think
we'll continue with the next dramatic
chapter in this story
in our next program however you can see
the battle line shaping up
which side which empire will prove
triumphant the roman empire or
christianity
the empire of this world or the kingdom
of god
the answer may surprise you
because there's a strange twist to this
clash of empires there's more than meets
the eye
here's what the bible says in ephesians
chapter 6 verses 12 and 13.
our struggle is not against flesh and
blood but against the rulers against the
authorities against the powers of this
dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms
therefore
put on the full armor of god
so that when the day of evil comes
you may be able to stand your ground
and after you have done everything
to stand
if you've enjoyed today's program on
constantine the great and would like to
dig deeper then i'd like to recommend
the special gift we have for all our
viewers today
it's the booklet a clash of empires
this booklet will share with you the
greatest clash of empires the world has
ever seen
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obligations whatsoever
so make the most of this wonderful
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[Music]
if you've enjoyed today's journey to
nish in serbia following the footsteps
of constantine the great and our
reflections on the clash between the
roman empire and christianity then be
sure to join us again next week when we
will share another of life's journeys
together
let's pray
dear heavenly father
we thank you because although life is
full of difficult choices
you are the one who shines the light
where there is darkness
help us to choose jesus and his rule in
our lives
help us to study your word
so that we may be strengthened and
encouraged for our journey through this
life
we ask this in jesus name
amen
[Music]
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