Rome: The Decline Of The Empire Flashcards
What is anarchy?
Disorder when there is absence of government and law
Who ruled the empire after Marcus Aurelius died?
- His son, Commodus
- Was not a strong leader
- Overthrown in A.D. 192
Between which years did anarchy rule the empire?
From A.D. 193 until A.D. 285
What were the three conditions that led to the decline in the empire after A.D. 180?
- Trade routes were effected by the lack of leadership in the empire
- Hiring of barbarian mercenaries hurt the economy of the empire
- Leadership disputes
What are mercenaries?
a soldier who serves a foreign army
When did Diocletian’s reign begin?
A.D. 284
How did Diocletian attempt to restore law, order and the economy?
- He hired more barbarian soldiers
- He tried to restore the economy with severe taxes and price control
- Some success was had with laws that prevented landowners from leaving their land to avoid taxes
Who was Constantine?
Diocletian’s successor who was appointed to work with Maximian in the West but achieved sole leadership in 324.
To where did Constantine move the capital of the Empire?
To Byzantium in the East and renamed the city Constantinople which means City of Constantine
How did Constantine affect the Christians?
- He ended Christian persecutions
- Recognized Christianity as a legitimate religion
- He is acknowledged as the first Christian emperor of the Roman world
Who was the last emperor to rule the empire?
Theodosius I, after his death the empire was divided between his sons
After Theodosius I’s death, how did the East and Western parts of the empire become divided?
East- became dominant and wealthy
West- became defenseless against barbarian invasions until it fell in 476
What is the significance of Roman law today?
It is the original basis of most legal systems today
How did Roman architecture thrive?
- An ornate style replaced the simplicity of Greek architecture
- Rome itself grew to rapidly to follow a plan
What significance did Latin provide after the fall of Rome?
- It flourished as the language of the church, government, law and education
- Became the base for Romance languages such as French, Italian and Spanish
- Latin words form the basis of many English words today
