Rome: The End of the Empire

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RomeThe End of the Empire

• CHW3M

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The Roman Empire

• 31 BCE 180 CE
• Various emperors (some good, some bad, some
  insane) move the empire forward (or backward)
• It reaches its greatest extent under Trajan
  (97-117 CE)

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The Pax Romana

• The Roman Peace
• About 100 years of stability
• Ends with the death of Marcus Aurelius
• Reasonable taxes, work is plentiful
• Trade with the Orient and Northern Europe
• Cities built and linked with an extensive network
  of paved roads
• Latin becomes the common language of the empire

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The Decline of the Empire

• Vast size of the empire means its hard to hold
  back invaders from its frontiers
• Parthians, and later, the Sassanians invade from
  east (Persia)
• Franks and Burgundians raid Roman territories
• Uprisings in Gaul and Britain

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From one empire to two

• Diocletian figures the empire is too big for one
  emperor to rule
• Divides it into two
• Diocletian rules the east, Maximian rules the
  west
• Each emperor (Augustus) will rule for 20 years,
  each with an assistant (Caesar) to be his
  successor
• Rome is no longer the capital
• Milan for the west, Nicomedia for east
• Roman senate is basically relegated to being a
  city council

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Did it work?

• Good Army reconquers Britain, stops African
  uprising, locks down eastern borders
• Bad When Diocletian and Maximian resign, a power
  struggle ensues

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Constantine

• After a civil war, Constantine emerges victorious
  in 324
• Moves eastern capital to Byzantium and renames it
  Constantinople
• Converts to Christianity (though still worships
  Roman gods)
• Roman soldiers wear Christian monograms on
  shields
• Issues Edict of Milan (Christians are free to
  practice their religion with persecution)
• Build churches and encourages Romans to convert

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Theodosius

• Successor to Constantine
• The last emperor to rule a united Roman Empire
• After him, the Empire is once again divided into
  two
• Makes Christianity the official religion of the
  empire in 380
• and outlaws all other religions

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The Barbarian Invasions

• The Huns are a constant problem from the east,
  Germanic tribes invading from the west
• Germanic tribes capture Rome in 476 and force the
  western emperor to step down

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The Legacy

• The eastern Roman Empire becomes the Byzantine
  Empire
• Fairly extensive territory
• Unique culture, art, Christian sect

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The Legacy

• The western empire more or less descends into
  chaos for the next few hundred years
• The Roman Catholic Church continues to grow in
  wealth and power
• Spreads Christianity throughout Europe
• By the high middle ages is the dominate power in
  Europe
• The Holy Roman Empire emerges in 962 under
  Charlemagne

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What do you think?

• Check out pages 172-173
• Which factor do you think played the most
  significant role in the decline of the empire?
  Why?
• Politics
• Economics
• Defence