SWB's History of the Medieval World- Chapter 1 Response Question

7. How, according to Wise-Bauer, did Constantine view Christianity? What evidence does she marshal to support this claim?

Bauer states that Constantine views Christianity as far much more than just his eternal salvation, but rather as a "new and fascinating way of understanding the world" (Bauer pg.7). It also ensured him an eternal seat as Emperor. By adopting Christianity as the national religion of the Roman Empire he could accomplish two things. He could unify his very racially and regionally diverse empire (having spread well into Persia and North Africa at this point) with an overarching moral law while, at the same time, he was able to retain and perhaps enhance the ideologies of the 'proper' Roman citizen. He also was able to elevate himself over the people by claiming authorisation from a divine being, distancing himself from deification as Augustus and Caesar had both done. The Edict of Milan, Bauer argues, demonstrates the action in front of motives in Constantine's brilliant chronological strategies.