Post on 31-Dec-2015
transcript
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
THE EMPIRE IN PROSPERITY Julius Caesar’s adopted son
Octavian ruled as Rome’s first emperor
Was given the name Augustus which means the revered or exalted one
Put an end to the chaos and power struggles that had occurred within the empire after his father’s assassination
Also expanded the empire
PROVINCES The lands and peoples
captured by the empire were organized into provinces, or territories, of Rome. Maintained peace in its
provinces by allowing individuals to continue living and working as usual
Appointed governors to rule the provinces and make sure that Roman law was enforced there
Benefits of provinces1. Territories acted as a buffer
zone2. Produced food and other goods
for the city of Rome3. People of provinces paid taxes
which supported the government and the army
*Because Rome was strong, the empire was peaceful and stable, which benefited everyone in it.
*The gov’t built roads that connected the provinces to Rome
*Also funded the construction of aqueducts
*Used to pipe drinking water from wells and springs to the people in the cities
Roman Aqueduct #1
Roman Roads #1
THE EMPIRE IN CRISIS Along the empire’s borders lived
tribes of Germanic peoples who were not content to live peacefully with Rome and were called barbarians Many barbarian men joined the Roman
army and helped to defend the frontiers against invasion and received land and a yearly salary in return
Some took refuge within the empire to escape the Huns! The Huns were a fierce group of
nomad warriors who conquered everyone in their path
*In addition to barbarians entering the empire there was a struggle for political control
*Many generals attempted to take the throne by force, backed by their armies
Combination of barbarian invasion and fighting ruined the countryside
*ruined land=no food able to be grown= food shortage
THE EMPIRE IN TRANSITION
Diocletian became emperor in 284 and divided the Roman empire into Eastern and Western halves.
Established 4 capital cities, instead of just one Hoped this division of power, land, and
resources would prevent civil wars
Increased the size of the army from 300,000 to 500,000 men
THE RISE OF THE EAST Diocletian’s successor, Constantine
attempted to stabilize the empire Created a new capital in the city of Byzantium
Byzantium was surrounded by water on 3 sides and mountains on the 4th and was a major trade center
Completely rebuilt Byzantium to resemble Rome Had the city renamed after himself,
Constantinople
Emperor Theodosius I declared that the Eastern and Western sections of the empire should be split into 2 separate empires
*Western Empire= Roman Empire*Eastern Empire= Byzantine Empire
Theodosius →
← Constantine
ACQUAINTED CULTURESPersia, India, & China
SASSANID PERSIA
Fought often with Romans over borders and political control over Armenia Important “buffer zone” between the two
empires- as long as both empires had a little control in Armenia, both empires were happy
First country to make Christianity its state religion
Fell under the rule of the Ottomans Declared modern-day independence in
1991
Who were the Persians?
SASSANID PERSIA Excellent fighters- constantly defending borders
Soldiers fought on horseback and wore armor to protect themselves Built large walls around their towns and fields which allowed them to
be able to maintain possession of their foody supply and shelter whilst under attack
Excellent traders- all trade routes to China, India, and Rome ran through Persia Established a common currency throughout the country Maintained the roads and assigned soldiers to patrol them to keep travelers
safe Set up resting places for travelers who came from long distances Charged a tax on any goods that were carried in or out of the country
Excellent in education- they behaved like a “great cultural sponge” King Khusru Anusharvan studied Plato and Aristotle and had it translated Welcomed Greek and Syrian scholars and founded the University of
Jundishapur Christians opened up a medical school
GUPTA INDIA Maintained the roads into and out of India
Did not subject its people to heavy taxes and thusly had a decent standard of living
Engaged in prosperous trade with the Eastern Roman Empire, Persia, China, and Southeast Asia
Sold brassware, ivory, jewels, and even monkeys Profited from this trade by taxing imports and exports
Arts and sciences were given much attention and both painting and writing flourished Very famous poet, Kalidasa, flourished during this time
period Created a number system, developed the concept
of zero, and discovered that the earth rotates on an axis
Were conquered by the Huns in 525
CHINA The Silk Road, major overland trade route, ran
through northwest China
Chinese junks (ships) sailed to India to trade silk for glass and pearls
Learned the teachings of Buddhism from Indian traders and missionaries they encountered
Imported grapes, beans, and nut trees for their gardens from Middle East & horses from Central Asia
Fought bitterly against the Huns before Chinese generals and upper class families fought each other for control of the country
Remained in state of disunity for 360 years
RISE OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
BYZANTINE HISTORY AND CULTURE Christianity was its state religion
In an effort to unite the people, Christianity was forced on non-believers
Emperor Justinian treated Jews and other non-Christians brutally Not allowed to build synagogues or join in city life Forbidden to study the works of the rabbis Force conversions and anti-Jewish massacres
Rebuilt Hagia Sophia with columns and walls of polished marble and mosaics, colored fragments of glass or quartz embedded in plaster Added a dome- 18 stories high and 108 feet wide
Condensed Roman law into a new, well-organized system known as Justinian Code Extended the rights of children, women, and slaves Harsher penalties for crimes- criminals could have their property taken away,
lose an eye or a hand, or be put to death
Temporarily defeated by the Persians, but Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persian army and reinstated the Byzantine empire in 627
Remained an important center of commerce, or trade, until 1453 when their empire finally fell