More Notes

Rome

5/12/14

• Economic- trade became risky; taxes were to high; food supply was dropping
• Military- frontiers were hard to patrol; Roman generals fought for control; soldier's loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared
• Diocletian divided the empire into two
• Greek-speaking East- had more resources
• Latin-speaking West- Rome, tradition
• AD 324- Constantine became emperor over both halves of the empire
• Moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, where Asia met Europe
• After his death, the empire was divided again
• This time, "barbarian invaders" overrun the empire's frontier
• AD 476- Roman Empire was over

Life in the Fourth Century:

• Country dwellers getting bankrupt because of taxes
• 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 off debts and being "allowed" to live 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
• Rome's power was beginning to decrease while nomadic barbarians gain power
• Western empire is to poor, begins to be neglected
• Huns migrate from China to eastern Europe
• Visigoths take over Spain and capture and loot Rome itself in 410
• Vandals control Carthage and the Western Mediterranean
• Other barbarian tribes: Ostrogoth's in Italy, Franks in Gaul, and Angels and Saxons in Britain

End of an Era

• Form 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
• To the bitter end- constant fifth century invasions by barbarian tribes left the western roman empire shattered and crumbling
• The last emperor was a teenage boy installed in 475 by his father
• Barbarians deposed Romulus Augustulus without bothering to kill him

Diocletian

• He was a roman emperor from 284-305
• His family was low status
• He didn’t like Christians- wanted to persecute them out of existence
• Rome needs a big army (400,000 strong)
• Rome needs a big government (20,000)

Constantine

• Ruled from 306-337
• Liked Christians
• Aloud conversion to Christianity- via a cross in the sky (a vision he saw)
• 313: his Edict of Milan proclaims freedom and worship
• Built a new capital in the East

Edict of Milan

• February 313 agreement to treat Christians kindly within the Roman Empire
• It is a proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire
• It stated that it is not allowed to persecute Christians
• Constantine and Licinius met in Milan and among other things, agreed to change policies towards Christians