5/12/14

Decline of the Roman Empire

AD 180: Rome has problems

• economic (trade became risky; taxes were too high; food supply was dropping)
• military (frontiers were hard too patrol; Roman generals fought for control; soldiers' loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared)
• Diocletian divided the empire into two
• Greek-speaking East (had more resources)
• Latin-speaking West (Rome. tradition)
• Diocletian:
• Diocletian was Roman emperor from 284 to 305. Born to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia, Diocletian rose through the ranks of the military to become cavalry commander to the Emperor Carus.Wikipedia
• Born: December 22, 244 AD, Solin, Croatia
• Died: December 3, 313 AD, Split, Croatia
• Full name: Diocletian
• Spouse: Prisca
• Children: Galeria Valeria
• he wasn't a big fan of Christians. he tried to persecute them out of existence.
• AD 324- Constantine becomes emperor over both halves of the empire
• moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium (renamed Constantine), where Asia met Europe (now Turkey).
• after his death, empire is divided again this time, "barbarian invaders" (Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, Angles, Saxons, Franks) overrun the empire's frontiers
• That's it for the Roman Empire (AD 476)

Two Emperors:

• Diocletian:
• he rules from 284-303
• its cool to persecute Christians
• Rome needs a big army (400,000 strong)
• Rome needs a big government (20,000 officials)
• Constantine:
• rules from 306-337
• its COOL to BE a Christian
• conversion to Christianity via a cross in the sky (conquer by this!)
• 313- his Edict of Milan proclaims freedom of worship
• built a new capital in the East
• Byzantium, soon became known as Constantinople
• Edict of Milan;
• it was rules stating that no more persecution of Christians
• was the dominant religion force of the Roman Empire

The struggles of the peasants

• country dwellers are getting bankrupted by endless tax collection
• new farming system: peasants work for elite landlords on large farms
• peasants can avoid paying taxes, but they are getting hit just as hard by the landlords
• paying of debts and being "allowed to like on the land, in exchange for endless back-breaking work
• landowners hold local power as counts and bishops, wielding more real power than the faraway empire
• foreshadowing feudalism

the western Empire Crumbles

• Rome's power is decreasing, while nomadic barbarians gain power
• western Empire is too poor to be neglected
• Huns migrate from Chine to eastern Europe
• Visigoths take over Spain, and actually capture and loot Rome itself in-410
• Vandals control Carthage and the western Mediterranean
• other barbarian tribes:
• Ostrogoth's in Italy
• Franks in Gaul
• Angles and Saxons in Britain

End of an era

• From the beginnings:
• 500 BC- the monarchy is abolished
• 450 BC- the Twelve Tables are established
• Through the glory days:
• 44 BC- end of the line for Julius Caesar
• 27 BC- 180 AD- the Roman Peace (Pax Romana)
• to the bitter end:
• constant fifth century invasion by barbarians tribes left the western Roman Empire shattered and crumbling
• the last emperor was a teenage by installed in 475 by his father
• barbarians deposed Romulus Augustulus without bothering to kill him