Rome’s Fall & Byzantines

I. IntroII. Later Rome

A. DiocletianB. ConstantineC. Why Fall? (476 AD)

III. ByzantinesA. BackgroundB. Justinian (527-565)

IV. Conc.

Key Terms• Constantine• Council of Nicea• Theodosius• Barbarian

Invasions• Bread & Circus• Code of Justinian

Diocletian

1. Political Reform: The Empire was divided into four geographic regions

284-305 AD

2. Social Reform: Christianity was outlawed

3. Economic Reform: The tax system was modified and taxes increased

Civil War

• Following Diocletian’s retirement in 305, Rome faced another Civil War. One man emerged as the victor…

Constantine

1. He consolidated power and ruled by decree

2. The capital of the Roman empire was moved to the East—

324-337 AD

Constantinople

3. The practice of Christianity was legalized

They Might Be Giants

“Istanbul was Constantinople”

http://vodpod.com/watch/150318-lip-dubbing-istanbul-not-constantinople

Theodosius

• Decreed Christianity was the official religion of Rome (380 AD).

379-395

Non-Christian Religions Prohibited

Temple & Statue of Zeus in Olympia

Temple of Zeus = Destroyed by Theodosius

Council of Nicea(326 AD)

• There were many views as to the nature of Jesus & Christian Doctrine.

• Constantine called all religious leaders (Bishops) together

• Nicene Creed:– Trinity: God, Jesus & Holy Spirit are one– Virgin birth of Jesus– He was crucified & rose from dead

Why Did Rome Fall?(476 AD)

2. Bread & Circus! • People wanted “games” and free food. They

were consumers; not producers

3. Administrative problems-the empire was simply too big to govern

1. Barbarian Invasions

a) Roman army wasn’t what it used to be

A Better Question:

How/why was it able to last so long?

Byzantines

• Name of the Roman Empire in the East; they saw themselves as Romans

• Constantinople = Capital (the city’s old name was Byzantium)

Justinian (527-565)

Byzantine Emperor

Motto- “One God, one Empire, one Religion.”

US Supreme Court Building(Stone Sculpture of 18 “Lawgivers)

Justinian & at US Supreme Court

Justinian Muhammad

Hagia Sophia: A Church (537 AD)

Justinian

3. Established Code of Justinian.

1. He reunified most of the old Roman empire.

2. Christianity was the official religion; non-Christian worship was outlawed.

Code Of Justinian

1. Established a single code of laws for all.

2. Its influence today:

a) Laws should be written.

b) Punishments for a crime should be the same for all.

Code of Justinian = JUSTICE

Rome’s Fall & Byzantines

I. IntroII. Later Rome

A. ConstantineB. Why Fall? (476 AD)

III. ByzantinesA. BackgroundB. Justinian (527-565)

IV. Conc.

Key Terms• Constantine• Council of Nicea• Theodosius• Barbarian

Invasions• Bread & Circus• Code of Justinian