Download Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity Over Time Essay
Jack Stevenson
Topic: The Fall and Rise of the Roman Empire
Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in the Roman civilization
during the last centuries of the classical era (100 CE – 600 CE)
Beginning: Old Rome
Middle: Collapse
End: Byzantium
-Pax Romana: stable politics for more than
- “Third century crisis”
-The Empire split into eastern and western
two centuries, since 1st century BCE
-Germanic tribes raided from the north
halves, and the western fell completely to
-Strong army = stable borders = safe trade
because they were getting raided
barbarian raiders
-Massive trade gave massive income, which -Military drained the treasury
-The eastern half established its capital at
allowed huge public works projects like
-Politicians were desperate for money to
Byzantium, which was renamed
roads, temples and aqueducts
pay the army, so they did stupid things like Constantinople-Polytheistic religion, Christianity a cult
adulterating the currency
-It had a more defensible position, and was
-Surplus of food, labor and money led to a
-Under constant pressure, the economy
able to reestablish trade
rich culture and widespread influence
collapsed; some returned to barter
-The Byzantine Empire grew into a
-With no economy, the government fell
powerful force once again
apart into years of civil war, with only
-Its culture was based largely on
ineffective attempts to pull it back together. Christianity, which had become widespread
and accepted
Changes: Rome came very close to complete extinction, and was forced to relocate itself and restructure its government to stay alive. In the
process, it changed its main religion, and its entire culture as a result. Its position as the unquestionably dominant power of the world was
destabilized, and it never regained its former glory.
Continuities: Though the government of the Empire didn't remain constant, the basic precept of a succession of powerful emperors remained
throughout the long lifespan of the Byzantine Empire. The second iteration of Rome followed the same economic pattern as the first: distant,
secure borders, supported by a strong military, allowing trade to go on freely. Byzantium's culture, though distinct from that of old Rome, was
strongly influenced by its new rulers. The combination of an old city and a new government created a new culture with flavors of both.
THESIS: Political instability in the Roman Empire in the third century caused a chain of problems, which moved from insecure borders to
inflation and economic collapse. The eastern half survived by severing its ties with the western, hanging on while its other half collapsed into
disorder. As the Byzantine Empire, it became rich and powerful again, with a different culture and a different religion. However, it never
achieved the same height of influence as old Rome.