The Roman Empire

What was the Roman Empire?

vast collection of states and cultures extended across Europe, Asia and Africa under the control of one ruler: the Roman Emperor

Augustus was first emperor emperors considered to be gods as well as rulers

Lasted from around 31 BC to 476 AD

Key achievements of Roman Empire

Roman culture unified three continents common language (Latin) legal principles: impartial justice, trial by jury engineering and architecture: great roads and buildings

Christianity

begins as outlaw religion in the far reaches of the Empire persecutions begin with the Emperor Nero persecution continues for three centuries

emerges as a major force very appealing to Rome’s common people, the poor, slaves different values from those of Rome

Christianity

from illegal to accepted religion Constantine: first Christian emperor Edict of Milan (313 AD): permitted Christians to practice

their religion

from accepted religion to official religion of the Empire Theodosius: made Christianity the state religion in 380 AD

Problems in the Empire too big and too diverse corruption in the army   constant civil war, often between people competing to be

emperor some really awful emperors increasing slavery led to greater unemployment large gap between rich and poor (as in the Republic) inflation: value of money decreased, prices went up trade declined declining population failure to protect borders: “barbarians” migrated into Empire

Division and Decline

problem: Empire is too big and diverse attempted solution: divide the Empire

Diocletian: Emperor who split the Empire into west and east in 285 AD

Decline of Rome

Constantine: emperor who moved the Empire’s capital away from Rome temporarily reunited the two parts of the Empire established new capital in the eastern part of the Empire in

330 AD capital city was renamed Constantinople empire was divided permanently in 395 AD

“Fall” of the Roman Empire

What do we mean by “fall”? generally refers to the abdication (giving up the throne) of

the last Roman emperor: Romulus Augustus in the year 476 AD

the city of Rome was invaded by the Germanic tribes, led by a chief named Odoacer

Only the western part of the Empire “fell” eastern part of the Empire became the Byzantine Empire it lasted for another thousand years