Classical Rome and the end of the Classical Era Unit 1 Section 9 TYWL: How were ancient civilizations and empires able to development, grow and create a lasting impact? How has conflict and innovation influenced political, religious, economic and social changes in medieval civilizations?
Question of the Day 4 How did geographic features influence the diffusion and settlement of both the Phoenician and Greek traders? 1) Both had access to the Mediterranean Sea. 2) The monsoon winds made ocean travel easier. 3) The arid climate encouraged migration. 4) Russia′s rivers provided ease of travel.
Early Roman History The Punic Wars 264-146 BCE Rome vs Carthage Rome victorious The Civil Wars 133-31 BCE Julius Caesar victorious –feared becoming dictator assassinated by fellow senators.
Decline and Fall of Rome “barbarian invasions” after 180 CE Economic decline Corruption Christianity
Christianity Division of the Empire Jewish religious beliefs Jesus Paul Roman persecutions Division of the Empire Emperor Diocletian 284-305 divided the Empire into East & West
Emperor Constantine I (306-337) Legalized Christianity w/ the Edict of Milan 313 Est. new capital at Byzantium, renamed Constantinople Eastern Roman Empire eventually became the Byzantine Empire
Council of Nicaea 325 Meeting of Church leaders called by Emperor Constantine to determine true Christian belief. Nicene Creed written to summarize basic Christian beliefs.
Final Division of the Church Western Christians followed the Roman Catholic Church under the Pope’s leadership. Eastern Christians followed the Eastern Orthodox Church under the leadership of the Byzantine Emperor and the Patriarchs.
Fall of the Classical Empires All three Empires faced economic decline, corruption from within, and other weaknesses. Most importantly, all three suffered from invasions of pastoral nomadic people, especially the . . . Hsiung-nu (aka the Huns)
Northern Europe Christian missionaries from Rome brought the new religion to the north using the Roman road system.
Polynesian and Oceanian Migrations
Africa “The Dark Continent”?? Desertification led to Bantu migrations Iron technology Ethiopia, Kush, Axum under Christian, Egyptian influence Center of trade and caravan routes
Cross cultural Trade in the Post-Classical Period Trade occurred among Europeans, but Europe was too backwards to be too involved in cross cultural trade Missionaries and Merchants carried cultural changes along trade routes.