Gilbert M. Stack's Blog, page 105
February 27, 2019
Today in History: Rome Embraces Christianity
On this day (February 27) in 380, Emperor Theodosius I issued the Edict of Thessalonica making Christianity the official religion of Rome. This is a remarkable turnaround as a century earlier Diocletian was persecuting those same Christians. Edward Gibbon argued that embracing Christianity led directly to the Fall of Rome. Scholars have long ago rejected this theory since it is not supported by the evidence, but the Edict of Thessalonica did change the character of the Roman Empire. Where once Romans had been willing to embrace a wide range of faiths, they now viewed uniformity of religious practice as essential to the survival of the empire.
This change in belief was a natural consequence of the spread of Christianity and the conversion of emperors. Until very recently, peoples believed that success was a sign of God’s (or “the gods’”) happiness with an individual or a nation. Military commanders, and Roman emperors were the ultimate military commanders, won battles because “the gods” favored them. Losing battles was considered proof of the gods’ displeasure with a commander or a nation. Pre-Christianity, Roman gods were exceedingly tolerant of other peoples’ deities, but missionary and staunchly monotheistic Christianity could not extend that sort of toleration. Emperors who became Christian quickly came to understand that the religious beliefs of their subjects were a national security issue. This led quite naturally to the Edict of Thessalonica.
February 26, 2019
Today in History: Napoleon Bonaparte
On this day (February 26) in 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from his enforced exile on the island of Elba to initiate the Hundred Days where he seized the crown of France and attempted to force the other nations of Europe to accept his return to power. It did not end well for him.
February 24, 2019
Today in History: The Zimmerman Telegram
On this day (February 24) in 1917, Britain gave the U.S. their copy of the Zimmermann Telegram. The telegram originated in Germany and offered a military alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States, with the Germans promising the Mexicans that they would provide generous subsidies to fund Mexican war efforts and help the Mexicans recover the territory composed of the following U.S. states: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The release of the telegram ultimately brought the U.S. into the war by swaying American public opinion against Germany. The story of how the British got their hands on the telegram (both the ability to break the code and the copy from the German embassy in Mexico that the British handed over to the Americans) sounds like a James Bond thriller. A very readable account is Barbara Tuchman’s, The Zimmermann Telegram.
February 23, 2019
Today in History: Highwayman Dick Turbin Was Betrayed by His Own Handwriting
On this day (February 23) in 1739, a schoolteacher named James Smith recognized the handwriting of notorious outlaw, Dick Turbin, on an envelope in a post office. Turbin had been arrested under an alias (Palmer) and had written to his brother-in-law who refused to pay the charges on the letter saying he didn’t know anyone in York (where “Palmer” was under arrest). But the envelope got noticed by Smith who recognized the handwriting. The letter was opened and through it the authorities realized they had the famous highwayman in their possession. It makes me wonder what kind of student Turbin was to have made such an impression on his teacher that he remembered his handwriting years later…
Today in History: Diocletian Persecutes the Christians
On this day (February 23) in 303, Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered the destruction of a Christian Church in Nicomedia beginning an eight-year persecution of Christians. Under the first edict, Christian property was confiscated and their scriptures burned. Christians were also excluded from the political process. They lost their ranks in the army and government and lost the right to petition the court or to respond to lawsuits. They were made vulnerable to judicial torture. In theory, this was supposed to be a bloodless persecution, but many local governors executed Christians who would not make sacrifice to Roman gods.
A second edict (Summer 303) targeted Christian deacons, lectors, priests, bishops and exorcists. The Roman prisons were so overwhelmed with Christian captives that common criminals had to be released. A third edict (November 303) offered amnesty to imprisoned priests who would sacrifice to Roman gods. When not enough priests agreed, many were tortured to force them to sacrifice and others were publicly announced to have sacrificed even though they claimed they had not. Scholars think that Diocletian was attempting to split the Christian community with these actions, but evidently he was not pleased with the result for in 304 he offered a final edict which ordered all people in the empire to gather in public places and offer sacrifice to the gods. Those who refused were executed often in terrible ways such as public rending by wild animals.
Diocletian saw his actions as a part of his systemic reform of the Roman Empire as he attempted to reverse a century of decline and restore Rome’s greatness. In today’s terminology this was a national security issue. To keep the gods on his side, he had to keep them happy, and allowing a people who denied the gods to flourish in his empire risked the gods turning on Rome. Yet, Christians in general were not unpopular. Concentrated mostly in the cities, they engaged in a lot of charitable works directed toward their poor and appear to have been pretty good neighbors. There were also other monotheists like worshippers of Sol Invictus who must have wondered if their turn would come.
In the long run, Diocletian’s effort to stomp out Christianity failed. The persecutions were never aggressively enforced in the west and in 313 Emperor Constantine, whose mother was a Christian, formally ended the persecutions.
February 22, 2019
Today in History: Galileo Gets in Trouble with the Church
On this day (February 22) in 1632, Galileo published his book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems in which he creates a discussion of science between two philosophers and a layman. The discussion purports to be neutral, merely laying out the theories that support the Aristotelian/ Ptolemaic world view that places the earth at the center of the universe and the Copernican worldview that places the sun at the center of the universe. In reality the Copernican model wins the debate.
Even though the Inquisition had granted a license for the book to be published, the book was used as evidence against Galileo when he was put on trial for heresy in 1633. The book was then put on the Index of Forbidden Books where it remained until 1835.
February 21, 2019
Today in History: The Legend of Zelda
I dedicate this post to my son, Michael, who loves video games.
On this day (February 21) in 1986, The Legend of Zelda video game was released in Japan. The Legend of Zelda is an action/adventure video game that spawned a plethora of sequels to become one of the best known video game franchises in existence. While not quite a role-playing game, it is considered to be a forerunner of that genre and is often included on lists of games that most influenced the video game industry. The game contains many of the elements that are mainstays of the series including the triforce, title character, Princess Zelda, and the hero, Link.
February 20, 2019
New Reviews on Website
Ever wonder what I read? I have a host of reviews up on my website that run across several genres:
Shards of Light by William L. Hahn
Cold Copper Tears by Glen Cook
Invasion at Bald Eagle by Kris Ashton
Rich Man's War and Poor Man's Fight by Elliot Kay
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Days of Future Past by John Van Stry
The Cosmos of Despair by Chris L. Adams
Life Reset: Environment vs. Player by Shemer Kuznits
The Savage Realms by Willard Black]
Gate of Ivrel by C.J. Cherryh
Fierce Girls (Series Review) by Mike Adams
You can read them all at: www.gilbertstack.com/reviews
Today in History: John Glenn
On this day (February 20) in 1962, John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the earth. In fact he orbited it four times in fifty-five minutes aboard Friendship 7. This is the flight depicted at the end of the movie, Hidden Figures.
February 19, 2019
Today in History: Japanese Americans Imprisoned During World War II
On this day (February 19) in 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 and authorized the creation of internment camps to which he would eventually send 120,000 Japanese American citizens for the crime of being Japanese after Pearl Harbor. In his autobiography, George Takei, (Sulu, of Star Trek) describes the pain he and his family felt when they were ripped from their homes and imprisoned for the crime of being a Japanese American.
