The Empire Strikes Out: The Decline of the Roman Empire

The Empire Strikes Out: The Decline of the Roman Empire

RISE OF CHRISTIANITY:

·        Jesus spends three years preaching, is killed by Roman leaders

·        Jesus’ followers believe he is the Messiah and Savior who has risen from the dead

·        Saul (the persecutor) becomes Paul (the evangelist), spreading Jesus’ message (one true God, not Roman gods)

·        Christianity evolves from cult status to established, official structure

·        Priest, bishops, pope (Bishop of Rome)

·        Christians and Jews were monotheistic (believing in one God)

·        This conflicted with Roman beliefs

·        Persecution against both was common

·        Christianity appealed to the poor, and since there were many poor, their numbers grew

·        As it grew, even some Roman leaders embraced Christianity (a lot of their followers were becoming Christians, they came around.)

·        AD 313: Constantine has a battlefield conversion (He has a vision of a cross, and hears “In his name.” So the night before the fight he tells his soldiers to put a cross on their shields and they pray before the battle and win.)

·        He issues the Edict of Milan

-         A law that was passed that you could not persecute Christians.

·        Not only no persecution, but actual approval of Christianity, eventually making it the official religion of Rome

·        The roman empire and Christianity are now linked in power and influence

DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE:

·        AD 180: Rome has problems

-         Economic (trade became risky; taxes were too high; food supply was dropping)

-         Military (frontiers were hard to patrol; Roman generals fought for control; soldiers’ loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared)

-         Diocletian divided the empire into two:

-         Greek-speaking East (had more resources)

-         Latin-speaking West (Rome, tradition)

·        AD 324- Constantine becomes emperor over both halves of the empire

-         Moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium (renamed Constantinople), where Asia met Europe (now Turkey)

-         After his death, empire is divided again

-         This time, “barbarian invaders” (Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, Angles, Saxons, Franks) overrun the empire’s frontiers

-         That’s it for the Roman Empire (AD 476)