The Roman Empire Flashcards Preview

HST112- Paths from Antiquity to Modernity > The Roman Empire > Flashcards

Flashcards in The Roman Empire Deck (6)
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1
Q

In which year did the Roman Empire fall?

A

476 AD, after 500 years.

2
Q

Who was the last Roman Emperor?

A

Romulus Augustulus

3
Q

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

A

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

4
Q

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

A

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.

5
Q

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

A

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

6
Q

How does Heather dispute Gibbons’ view?

A

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