1. Early Christian Period Art

2. Period of Persecution 33A.D.- 313 A.D. During the late Roman Empire Roman Rulers (Caesars) were considered gods. Worshiping anyone but the Caesar was outlawed. Christians were forced to worship in private– underground in the same places that were used as tombs.

3. Period of Recognition 313A.D.- 527A.D. In 313 A.D. the Roman Emperor Constantine is reported to have received a vision from God. Constantine would then declare Christianity the accepted religion of the Roman Empire. Christians were able to worship in public.

4. Byzantine Art As the Roman Empire expanded it became difficult to manage and split into East and West. The Eastern Empire would become known as the Byzantine Empire. The styles of its art reflected an Asian influence.

5. The Haggia Sophia Justinian- The Christian Emperor of the Byzantine Empire built the magnificent Haggia Sophia in his capital.

6. The Carolingian Empire After 527 the Roman Empire collapsed overtaken by German barbarians By the late 700s stability was retuned by the strong leadership of Charlemagne. Art began to thrive under government sponsorship.

7. Ottonian Period After the death of Charlemagne the European empire was in chaos until the rise of Otto I of Bavaria around 900 A.D. Art generally suffered except in Otto’s empire. He attempted to recreate Roman styles in his “ Holy Roman Empire”.

8. Romanesque 1000 - 1200 Art forms imitated Roman artistic style thrived in Europe. This style would later be referred to as Romanesque.

9. Gothic Art 1200-1300s Gothic Art is originally named for the Goths (Germans) who destroyed the Roman Empire. Many critics saw the forms and subjects as barbaric even though Gothic art was produced much later.