Download Although Roman architectural style survived, the era after

Although Roman architectural style survived, the era after
Constantine's rule saw the degradation of Roman monuments and art.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Assess the effects of the division of the Roman Empire after Constantinople was formed.
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
The multiple sackings of Rome caused the monuments and arts of Rome to be raided of their
marble, facades, décor, andcolumns.
Some stylistic aspects of Roman architecture survived after the rule of Constantine, like the
popularization of the Romanbasilica as a model for Christian churches.
Rome did not regain its high level of artistic significance until just prior to and during
the Renaissance.
Constantine completed the Basilica Nova, whose construction was begun by his rival Maxentius.
This massive concrete building displayed the impressive power and authority of Constantine.
At one end of the Basilica Nova sat the Colossus of Constantine, which was over 40 feet tall and
made of marble, brick, wood frames, and bronze gilding. The Colossus further emphasized the
sole authority, control, and power held by Constantine.
TERM [ edit ]
Byzantium
The Byzantine Empire.
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Background
Following Constantine's founding of a "New Rome" at the city called Constantinople, the
prominence and importance of the city of
Rome diminished. The empire was then
divided into two parts, east and west. The
more prosperous eastern half of the
empire continued to thrive, mainly due to
its connection to important trade routes
and became known as the Byzantine
Empire, while the western half of the
empire fell apart. While at times over the
next several
centuries,Byzantium controlled Italy and
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the city Rome, for the most part the Western Roman Empire, due to being less urban and
less prosperous, was difficult to protect. Indeed, the city of Rome was sacked multiple times
by invading armies, including the Ostrogoths and Visigoths, over the next century.
Roman Arts
The style of art during this time, which had already seen a stylistic change
from Classical to Late Antique, continued to serve as means of political, religious, and
imperial expression. The multiple sackings of Rome did not help the monuments and arts of
Rome to remain unscathed. Furthermore, Roman monuments were raided of their marble,
facades, décor, and columns for the building and decoration of churches throughout the city.
Today when touring Rome, you can easily spot spolia of ancient Roman columns, capitals,
and bases used to build and decoratemedieval Christian churches. Parts of ancient Rome,
especially the Republican Forum, returned once again to the cow pastures that they
originally were at the time of the city's founding, as floods from the Tiber washed them over
in debris and sediment .
Campo Vaccino
A view of the Roman Forum by Italian engraver, Giambattista Piranesi. This shows what the forum
looked like­­ an empty cow filed­­ during his own time in the mid 18th century CE.
However, some aspects of Roman architecture survived after the rule of Constantine. For
instance, the popularization of the Roman basilica as a model for Christian churches began
under Constantine but continued to thrive even after his death and is an important feature of
post­Constantinian Roman architecture.
Revival
Rome once more regained significance just prior to and during the Renaissance, as the papal
authority paid great attention to embellishing the city and renowned artists were hired to
study, rebuild, and decorate the eternal city of Rome.