The Roman Empire

Question 1

In which year did the Roman Empire fall?

Answer 1

476 AD, after 500 years.

Question 2

Who was the last Roman Emperor?

Answer 2

Romulus Augustulus

Question 3

Under which Emperor did Christianity become the official religion of Rome?

Answer 3

Constantine the Great- He signed the Edict of Milan in 313AD

Question 4

What theory did Edward Gibbons purport for the fall of Rome in 476 AD?

Answer 4

Christianity. The Romans accepted the idea of the afterlife, which Gibbons argued made them ‘lazy’ and less focused on maintaining the empire and achieving glory in this lifetime.

Question 5

Give a quote from Gibbons which exemplifies the enduring obsession with the fall of Rome.

Answer 5

“Deep within the European psyche lies an anxiety that if ancient Rome could fall, then so too can the proudest of modern civilisations.”

Question 6

How does Heather dispute Gibbons’ view?

Answer 6

He argues against ‘moral decay’ by saying that the Eastern Empire survived despite being equally as corrupt