H A N A N D R O M E

THE FALL OF CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS

2

INTERNAL DECAY OF THE HAN STATE

• Court intrigue• Formation of actions• Problem of land distribution• Large landholders develop private armies

• Epidemics• Peasant rebellions• 184 CE Yellow Turban Rebellion

3

COLLAPSE OF THE HAN DYNASTY

China after the Han Dynasty, 220 CE

• Generals assume authority, reduce Emperor to puppet figure

• Alliance with landowners• 200 CE Han Dynasty

abolished, replaced by 3 kingdoms

• Immigration of northern nomads increases

4

SINICIZATION OF NOMADIC PEOPLES

• Social and cultural changes to a Chinese way of life• Adapted to the Chinese environment• Agriculture

• Adoption of Chinese names, dress, intermarriage

5

POPULARITY OF BUDDHISM AND DAOISM

• Disintegration of political order casts doubt on Confucian doctrines• Buddhism, Daoism gain popularity• Religions of salvation

6

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: INTERNAL FACTORS

• The Barracks Emperors• 235-284 26 claimants to the throne, all but one

killed in power struggles• Epidemics• Disintegration of imperial economy in favor of

local and regional self-sufficient economiesThe Barracks Emperors (AD 235-284)A time of almost constant civil war and constant upheaval in politics. Most of the emperors were generals who seized power by force and violence. The period is part of the "Crisis of the Third Century."

AD 235 Maximinus I (the Thracian) AD 268 Claudius Gothicus

AD 238 Gordianus I and Gordianus II; Pupienus and Balbinus AD 270 Quintillus

AD 238 Gordianus III AD 270 AurelianusAD 244 Philippus (the Arabian) AD 275 TacitusAD 249 Decius AD 276 FlorianusAD 251 Gallus and Volusianus AD 276 ProbusAD 253 Aemilianus AD 282 CarusAD 253 Valerianus and Gallienus AD 283 Carinus and NumerianusAD 258 Gallienus (alone)

7

DIOCLETIAN (R. 284-305 CE)

• Divided empire into two administrative districts• Co-Emperors, dual Lieutenants• “Tetrarchs”

• Currency, budget reform• Relative stability disappears after Diocletian's

death, civil war follows• Constantine emerges victorious

8

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: EXTERNAL FACTORS

• Visigoths, influenced by Roman law, Christianity• Formerly buffer states for Roman Empire

• Attacked by Huns under Attila in 5th c. CE• Massive migration of Germanic peoples into

Roman Empire• Sacked Rome in 410 CE, established Germanic

emperor in 476 CE

9

Germanic invasions and the fall of the western Roman Empire, 450-476 CE

10

CULTURAL CHANGE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

• Growth of Christianity• Constantine’s Vision, 312 CE• Promulgates Edict of Milan, allows Christian practice• Converts to Christianity

• 380 CE Emperor Theodosius proclaims Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

11

ST. AUGUSTINE (354-430 CE)

• Hippo, North Africa• Experimented with Greek thought, Manichaeism• 387 converts to Christianity• Major theologian

12

THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH

• Conflicts over doctrine and practice in early Church• Divinity of Jesus• Role of women

• Church hierarchy established• Patriarchs, Bishop of Rome primus inter pares