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