Life in the Roman Empire

I. Daily life in the Roman Empire

A. Public life more important than private

B. Government built grand public services

1. Temples

2. Baths

3. Coliseums

4. Markets

Entertainment

C. Homes very modest for most

D. Life lived outdoors (like Greeks) - public areas very crowded

E. Numerous corner cook stands and bars

1. Lots of eating and drinking

2. Led to problems of violence, public drunkenness

3. Mob violence in time became only real political outlet for masses

F. Meanwhile, wealthy lived life of dinners, parties, high fashion, slave servants

G. Average person caught up in delusions

H. Excess and entertainment

II. Pax Romana (particularly during period of 5 Good Emperors)

A. Extensive trade network, roads, created cosmopolitan empire

B. Roman colonization created many towns C. These town became centers of cultural cross

polarization D. Downside - more towns meant more epidemics E. East vs. West

1. West: Historical Rome, lot of problems2. East: Wealthier (more powerful), fresh

opportunity.

Late Roman Empire and the fall of Rome

I. Late Empire - rigid society, economy, religious systems (tension)

A. Stability depended on emperor and military

1. 193-235AD - militarization 2. 235-284AD - anarchy

B. Constantine, 306-337AD 1. City of Rome ungovernable, moves capital to Constantinople

in east 2. Splits empire in half

a. East - Constantinople, West - Rome b. Different fates of East and West

3. Legalizes Christianity - Edict of Milan 311ADa. No more persecutionb. Good or Bad for Christianity????c. End of Christianity (in its original form)

C. Theodosius 378-395AD

1. Last great emperor

2. Christianity the official religion

3. Government control of Christianity

II. The Collapse of the (Western) Roman Empire

A. Germanic tribes (Goths) in North grow stronger

B. West grows weak

C. Goths cross the border 400AD

1. Visigoths sack Rome 410AD

2. Vandals (a Gothic tribe) sack the city 455AD

3. Government in East didn’t respond (didn’t care)

4. Last Western Roman Emperor (Romulus Agustulus) killed 476AD

5. No one takes his place

6. Western Roman Empire has collapsed

7. Eastern Roman Empire keeps going - becomes known as Byzantine Empire

D. Legacy???? Stand for nothing – fall for anything.