Francesca, Habermas

Is the postmodern era a historical replication of the late Roman empire? Recent events regarding organized religion seem to corroborate this suspicion. The late Roman empire bears an indelible significance to the postmodern era when comparing the two period from a general perspective. For instance, throughout the course of history there have been certain canons that constitute what is regarded to be modern, Likewise, specific attributes are classified in the realm of antiquity. The intersection between such novel and classical ideals is an essential prerequisite for the comprehension of an era’s cultural genesis. Furthermore, there are several aspects of the Late Roman culture that bear pertinent similarities to postmodernism. The Late Roman period was a time of progressive gravitation towards religious conformity. The years that preceded the Middle Ages set the tone for historical events such as the Crusades. This preface was signified by pervasive urbanization and the proliferation of the Catholic Church’s influence. It seems as though our present day culture is searching for an analogous unifying force under similar pretenses. Judging from presidential addresses, we look to the exemplar of modern politics to explicate predominant similarities. The overwhelming utilization of messianic language employed as a tactic for societal unification under a uniform religion is an evident parallel to the Late Roman period. As opposed to the scholarly purposes Catholic scribes served in this period, the prevalence of Judeo-Christian beliefs in today’s society is utilized primarily for political headway. Nevertheless, both era’s have employed organized religion in an attempt to deter an overriding element of hedonism within each culture. In conclusion, the point at which modernity seeks to evolve from antiquity typically involved a desire for unification. As history undoubtedly repeats itself, the Late Roman era set a precedent for the postmodern period to utilize organized religion as a means for such amalgamation.