7172019 Iowa City Paper Proposal

httpslidepdfcomreaderfulliowa-city-paper-proposal 11

Benjamin Rogaczewski MA History from UW-Milwaukee

2801 S 75th St

West Allis WI 53219

This paper takes a look at the short reign of Emperor Julian who ruled the Roman Empire

from 361 to 363 CE and particularly his secular reforms concerning philanthropy for the poor Julian

also known as the Apostate for his turning from Christianity and embrace of the traditional pagan

religions and his reign have been viewed as incredibly controversial Ancient and modern historians

alike are con852070983148icted on how to treat his reforms On one hand the reforms could be seen as strategic

mimicry of the early Churchrsquos philanthropic endeavors while on the other hand they could be seen

simply as necessary reforms molded from neoplatonist ideals Both contain some overlap but one

depicts Julian as a strategic plagiarist the other as a devoted adherent to neoplatonism Considering

Julian was raised a Christian having been taught the scriptures by leading bishops of the time it is

tempting to view Julianrsquos secular reforms as calculated measures meant to undermine the rising power

of the Church However it is possible that all these di983142 ferent aspects of Julianrsquos controversial reforms

can be reconciled In Peter Brownrsquos Power and Persuasion Brown viewed the relationship between the

State and Church as a power struggle in which the Church leaders of the time 1048678983145lled the now vacant

positions once occupied by State o9831421048678983145cials By looking at Julianrsquos letters inscriptions from the period

and histories from the period (speci1048678983145cally Ammianus Marcellinus Socrates Scholasticus and

Sozomen of Gaza) I intend to view Julianrsquos within Brownrsquos power struggle paradigm I believe that

Julianrsquos reforms speci1048678983145cally those concerning philanthropy for the poor were reactionary acts to the

power struggle between the Church and State