Download AN EMPIRE IN DECLINE

AN EMPIRE IN DECLINE
I can describe factors that led to the
Roman empire’s decline and the
ultimate rise of Christianity.
WEAKNESS IN THE EMPIRE
After the death of Marcus Aurelius a series of problems began to weaken the
empire. These economic, military, and political problems were difficult to solve.
MILITARY
ECONOMIC
POLITICAL
•
•
•
•
•
The empire could no longer feed its • Rome was constantly at war. • The size of the empire made
many people.
it difficult to govern.
• The empire needed larger armies
Farmlands had been destroyed by • Rome hired mercenaries, who • It was difficult for news
warfare.
to spread.
weren’t as disciplined as regular
Lack of improvement in farming
• Many corrupt government
Roman soldiers.
techniques led to the land being worn
officials.
•
The
result
was
a
weakened
defense
out.
• Cost of education increased
along the empire’s borders. • People grew less informed
Taxes were high and many people
didn’t pay them.
With no money, the empire couldn’t
TO SUM THINGS UP….THINGS ARE BECOMING A BIG
pay its army.
MESS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
GROUP DISCUSSION: What kinds of things would happen if the U.S.A suddenly had these
specific problems (economic/military/political)….Do we already have these problems?
DIOCLETIAN DIVIDES THE EMPIRE
A rapidly changing series of emperors also weakened the
government. During a 49 year period (from A.D. 235-284), Rome had 37
emperors. THAT’S AN AVERAGE OF A NEW EMPEROR EVERY 1.3
YEARS!!!!
Some of these emperors were military leaders who used their
armies to seize control. With emperors changing so often, the Roman people
had little sense of orderly rule.
In A.D. 284, the emperor Diocletian took power. He changed the
way the army operated by permanently placing troops at the empire’s borders. He
also introduced economic reforms, including keeping prices low on goods such as
bread, to help feed the poor. During his reign, Diocletian no longer bothered to
consult with the Senate. He issued laws on his own. Diocletian was an absolute
ruler, one who has total power.
Diocletian soon realized that he could not effectively govern the huge empire. In A.D. 285, he
reorganized it in two, taking the eastern portion for himself. He chose this area for its greater wealth and trade, and
its magnificent cities. He appointed Maximian to rule the Western Empire. The two men ruled for 20 years.
GROUP DISCCUSION: Was Diocletian good for the Roman Empire?
Diocletian died as Rome’s last non-Christian emperor. In A.D 304 a civil war broke out
over control of the empire. Four military commanders, including a man named Constantine, fought
for control of the two halves of the empire.
CONSTANTINE
Constantine was a western Roman
military commander who fought to gain
control of Italy during the civil war. In
A.D. 312, he entered Rome as the new
emperor of the western half. By A.D.
324, he had taken control of the Eastern
Empire as well. The empire was
reunited and Constantine became the
sole emperor.
In a bold move, Constantine shifted the
empire’s capital from Rome to Byzantium
(later named Constantinople). The city was
well placed for defense and trade. Constantine
enlarged and beautified his new capital. Today
the city is called Istanbul (Turkey).
http://safeshare.tv/w/uoUAmJteXp
CHRISTIANITY
For centuries, Rome tolerated the different religious practices of the people it conquered. Rome
however would not allow the religions of subject peoples inspire rebellion. Many thousands of people were
killed when such rebellions occurred.
As Christianity spread throughout the people of the empire, many Roman emperors blamed
Christianity for problems. The Roman emperor Nero blamed Christians for a fire that leveled much of
Rome in A.D. 64.
For nearly 300 years, Christians throughout the empire were
persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, and executed. Roman
emperors simply would not let go of their religions past.
However, in A.D. 306, Constantine became the new emperor, and
major changes began throughout the empire.
When Constantine became the sole emperor, he immediately outlawed and
ended the persecution of Christians. Then, in the Edict of Milan, he made
Christianity one of the empire’s legal religions and returned property that had been
seized during the persecutions. Constantine also built churches, used Christian
symbols on coins, and made Sunday a holy day of rest and worship.
In A.D 380, the Roman Emperor Theodosius decreed Christianity as
Rome’s official religion. Today, Christianity is the world’s largest
religion, with an estimated 33% of the world’s population and 77% of
Americans worshipping one of the many branches of the religion.