More Notes on Rome

• Christians and Jews were monotheistic
• They conflicted with the Roman beliefs
• Persecution against both was common
• Christianity was common in poor and since there were a lot of poor people, it was popular
• As it got popular, some Roman leaders embraced Christianity
• AD 313: Constantine has a battlefield conversion
• He issues the Edict of Milan
• Not only no persecution, but actual approval of Christianity, eventually making it the official religion of Rome
• The Roman Empire and Christianity are now linked in power and influence
• The greatest single change that began during the Roman Peace was the spread of Christianity.
• It began within a group called Judaism
• The Germanic barbarians of northern Europe became wealthier, more highly organized, and military stronger as a result of living as Rome's neighbors during the Roman Peace era.
• In 200 A.D., they became a formidable threat that the emperors could hold them off only by building up the army, replacing self- rule by centralizing government, and openly ruling as absolute monarchs.
• In the long run, this failed to hold the empire together, but had lasting results for the future development of the west.
• The empire was still strong enough to bring about the last and greatest of the changes in civilization that took place under its rule
• Eventually, after the empire took Christianity into partnership as the official and majority religion, the barbarians attacks grew too fierce to be resisted, and the empire began to collapse.