Fall of Rome and the Byzantine Empire

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Question of the Day

Which ancient civilization is most associated with the terms listed in the box above?A ChineseB EgyptianC MesopotamianD Roman

TLW… Discuss the reasons for the

fall of the Roman Empire Examine the reigns of

Constantine and Justinian and the rise of the Byzantine Empire

Define Justinian Code

What will we learn today?

Many different factors led to the rise and fall of ancient empires. The Roman Empire was no exception. By the third century A.D., Rome had forged the largest empire the world had ever known. But the empire’s vast size would pose many problems for its rulers and eventually contribute to its decline.

Problems for the Roman Empire

Barbarian invasions- Germanic tribes attacked along the Danube; Parthians waged war in east; North Africans pushed on the southern borders.

Ineffective emperors-Caligula was insane. He ordered the murder of many people and wasted huge sums of money. Commodus spent most of his time seeking glory for himself—he even announced he was the new Romulus and wanted the city renamed after him. He did little to solve serious problems facing Rome. Nero was a brutal, ruthless emperor who was not concerned about his people.

Too many demands on the army- As the empire grew, more troops were needed to protect the frontiers. Soldiers hired on the frontiers were not willing to go defend other parts of the empire and often were loyal to local commanders rather than rulers in Rome. Sending soldiers out to the frontiers caused a manpower shortage in Rome.

Disease- Soldiers returning from Parthia brought back the plague; from A.D. 250-400, waves of smallpox and other diseases decreased the population.

Overextension of the empire- It was difficult to govern efficiently and effectively. It was hard to defend the outlying provinces as more and more troops were needed. Romans were exposed to diseases from other lands. The empire had to cope with many local languages and customs.

Major problems that led to the decline of the Roman Empire:

Who They Were: tribes who lived outside the Roman Empire, including the Goths (Visigoths and Ostrogoths), Huns, and Vandals

Where They Lived: outskirts of the Roman Empire and surrounding lands

How They Lived: nomadic way of life

What They Did: plundered, raided, seized territory, forced payments

What They Became Over Time: the modern nations of Europe and the Middle East

Barbarians

Emperor Diocletian decided the only thing to do with Rome was to split the empire in half, because he felt that it had grown too large to run smoothly. That way, it would be easier to manage. This created two Roman empires - the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. Each side had a ruler in charge of it emperor—the Augustus—and an assistant—the Caesar.. But the ruler who was in charge of Rome was the senior ruler. The Western Roman Empire (Europe/North Africa) included the city of Rome.  The Eastern Roman Empire (Turkey/parts of Asia) included the city of Byzantium.  

Rather than rule Rome, Diocletian chose to rule the Eastern Roman Empire. He placed a good friend in charge of Rome. Before he left town, Emperor Diocletian moved a great deal of Rome's money over to the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Empire Splits

A.D. 274 - A.D. 337 The vision that influenced Constantine was of a

flaming Chi Rho symbol in the sky with the Latin words In hocsigno vinces under it- "in this sign you will conquer."

Seen as ambitious, friend to the Christians, able warrior, effective ruler, brilliant leader, convert to Christianity at the end of his life.

the Edict of Milan helped Christianity spread faster than ever- a proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire. It was the outcome of a political agreement concluded in Milan between the Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius in February 313.

He helped Christianity spread by legalizing the religion and ending the persecution of Christians, and he moved the capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium (later renamed Constantinople).

Constantine

Chi and Rho are the first two letters (ΧΡ) of "Christ"

in Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. (Christos).

Constantine’s Edict of Milan made Christianity a legally recognized faith in the Roman Empire, the religion began to spread faster than ever. List some things about Christianity that appealed to the people of the empire:◦ It offered comfort in troubled times.◦ It gave them hope for a better future (in the present

life and in the next).◦ It included a call to love and help one’s neighbors.◦ It seemed to give meaning to their hard lives.

Constantine

292: Diocletian divides the Roman empire into two. 324: Constantine reunites the two parts 330: Constantine builds a new capital in the location of

ancient Byzantium 337: The death of Constantine results in division between east and

west. When people say "Rome fell", they mean the Western Roman Empire.

The Western Roman Empire, pictured below in dark gold, included the city of ancient Rome. The Western Roman Empire fell into the Dark Ages in 476 CE.

The Eastern Roman Empire, pictured in green below, with its capital Constantinople, continued for another thousand years.

The Beginning of the End..

A series of events contributed to a gradual decline of the Roman Empire until, at last, one event heralded the end. Here’s a list of events that can be collectively considered “the fall of Rome.”◦ Emperors and generals fought over land.◦ Roads and buildings fell into disrepair.◦ War, famine, and disease took many lives.◦ Invading tribes of barbarians overran Roman

lands and towns.◦ In 410 A.D., Visigoths plundered Rome after

the emperor of the Western Empire and his court fled.

◦ In 476 A.D., barbarians captured and exiled Romulus Augustulus, the last Roman emperor.

Decline of an Empire

Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium. When the glory that was Rome faded in the West, the Eastern Empire continued to flourish, becoming the Byzantine Empire. Eventually, this empire extended from Spain to the Black Sea and along the north coast of Africa. The Byzantine Empire developed a new culture, exciting art, and remarkable architecture that still inspire awe today. Influences from both West and East came together in the glory and grandeur of the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Beginnings

Many people helped the Byzantine Empire grow and prosper, but none contributed more than Justinian and Theodora. Acting as a team, the emperor and empress provided forceful leadership and great insight. They expanded the empire and united it through law, art, and architecture.

Justinian◦ He created Justinian’s Code. ◦ He transformed the capital into a city with many

churches, including the magnificent Hagia Sophia. He also built an enormous underground aqueduct. The Hagia Sophia is a huge domed cathedral built by the

Byzantine emperor Justinian in Constantinople around A.D. 535. The name means “Holy Wisdom.”

Theodora◦ Theodora was the empress, wife, partner, and trusted

advisor to Justinian. upset a lot of people because she was an actress, and many

people thought all actresses were bad women. But in fact she made a good empress, and Justinian seems to have loved her very much, even though they never were able to have any children.

◦ She built hospitals for the sick and converted an old palace into a home for poor women.

Justinian and Theodora

Emperor Justinian wanted to save in writing all the laws that began in ancient Rome. In ancient Rome, those laws were called the Twelve Tables. Emperor Justinian collected up all the old laws,  and added new ones that gave his people even more rights. He called this body of law the Code. 

One of the laws in Justinian's Code stated that a person was innocent until proven guilty.

These laws form the basis of all today's justice systems in the western world.

Justinian Code

Justinian made peace with King Khusrho of the Sassanids in 532 AD, which made it possible for him to send Roman troops to reconquer Africa from the Vandals, Italy from the Ostrogoths, and Spain from the Visigoths. This is called the Byzantine Reconquest. These troops mainly succeeded, though after his death the land was slowly lost again to new invaders.

On the other hand, there were many raids into the empire during his reign, especially in the Balkans. And, beginning in 542 AD, there was a terrible plague throughout the Empire, which may be the first appearance of the bubonic plague.

Justinian’s Reign

Review Questions

______ divides the Roman empire into two.A. DiocletianB. ConstantineC. JustinianD. Nero

Emperor Justinian made all new laws that were completely different from the Roman’s Twelve Tables For TrueX for False