1. Discussion notes given on Tuesday Oct. 10th

2. Introduction Activity
Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire?
Provide at least 3 reasons why

3. Roman Persecution of Christians

4. Image retrieved from http://commons. wikimedia
Christianity
Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus based his teachings on Monotheism & the Ten Commandments.
The Good Shepherd, painted CE in the Catacomb of Priscilla

5. Roman Persecution of Christians
Left image retrieved from
Right image retrieved from
Roman Persecution of Christians
The Decian persecution resulted from an edict issued in 250 by the Emperor Decius ordering everyone in the Roman Empire to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the Emperor. The edict ordered that the sacrifices be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, and a signed and witnessed certificate(libellus) be issued to that effect. It was the first time that Christians had faced legislation forcing them to choose between their religious beliefs and death, although there is no evidence that Decius' edict was specifically intended to target Christians. The edict appears to have been designed more as an Empire-wide loyalty oath. Nevertheless, a number of Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, many others apostatized and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. The effects were long-lasting and caused tension between Christians who had performed the sacrifices or fled and those who had not, and left bitter memories of persecution.
Above: Painting of early Christian Love Feast from the Catacomb of Saints Pietro e Marcellino
Left: Libellus from 250 CE

6. Map of Roman Governances in the time of Emperor Trajan

7. Central Historical Question
Why did the Roman Empire persecute Christians?

8. Textbook Account
As Christianity spread through the Roman world, some local officials feared that Christians were conspiring against them. As a result, they arrested and killed many Christians. However, those killed were seen by the early Christians as martyrs, people who die for their faith and thus inspire others to believe. Even many nonbelievers were impressed by the martyrs’ faith.
Although Christians often were persecuted at the local level, large-scale persecution by the Romans was rare during the first two centuries after Jesus’s life. As it grew, however, some rulers came to see Christianity as a threat and began persecuting those who practiced it.
Source: World History: Human Legacy, written by Ramirez, Stearns, and Wineburg

9. According to the textbook…
1. What was the relationship between the Roman Empire and Christianity? 2. Why did the Roman Empire persecute Christians?

10. “What to do about Christians”
Romans misunderstood Christianity and found their ideas offensive; Christians refused to worship Roman Gods or Roman Emperors & some were killed as martyrs.

11. Emperor Nero despised Christians and had them blamed for burning a part of Rome.

12. Emperor Constantine
Christianity is legalized late in the Roman Empire when Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity & most follow his example.

13. The Fall of Rome
After the Pax Romana, leaders in Rome didn’t know how to handle such a large empire.
Military – war had destroyed lots of farmland. In addition, soldiers were becoming less loyal to Rome and more loyal to their commanders
Mercenaries, or foreign soldiers who fought for money, were brought in. They had little to no loyalty to Rome
Citizens lost their sense of patriotism and became indifferent to the empire’s fate

14. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

15. The Roman Empire at its Height
The Roman Empire became huge
It covered most of Europe, North Africa, and some of Asia
The Empire reached its height under Emperor Diocletian ( CE)

16. Expansion: Good or Bad?
What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?

17. Economic Troubles Decline begins after the pax romana in 3rd Century
Invaders made trade unsafe on sea and on roads
The rich spent gold and silver on luxury items from Asia which drained Rome of these precious metals
Rome began making coins with less silver which caused inflation.

18. Economic Troubles
Inflation is a drastic drop in the value of money coupled with rising prices for items.
Agriculture decreased because of infertile soil, and farmland destroyed by war.
Food shortages
Spread of disease
Taxes too great: people stopped paying

19. Military Troubles Germanic tribes were invading Rome
Soldiers no longer had discipline or loyalty to Rome.
Soldiers had loyalty only to their commanders, who fought not for Rome, but to try to become the emperor.
To defend Rome, mercenaries were recruited – foreign soldiers who fought for money.
No money to pay military= weak military; unable to stop border invasions

20. Troubles in the empire made citizens lose patriotism for Rome
Being a political official was no longer thought to be an honor
Few people wanted to serve in the government
Major corruption: bribes
Out of 26 generals who became emperors, 25 met violent deaths.
Political Troubles

21. Temporary Help Diocletian in A.D. 284 became a strong leader
He doubled the Roman armies and hired German mercenaries
Persecuted Christians
He divided the Roman empire into 2 sides
East: Greek speaking
West: Latin speaking
He took over the East, but Civil war broke out after his death

22. Constantine Took over the West part of the empire in A.D. 312
Moved the capital to a strategic location in Greece in the East in Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople
He accepted Christianity

23. Moves the Capital of Rome

24. The West Falls
The west faced worse problems than the east that was far from invaders
From A.D. 376 to 476, huge numbers of Germanic tribes poured into Rome to get away from
the fierce Huns
Attila the Hun was a powerful chieftain who swept through the west

25. The Western Empire Crumbles
Germanic Invasions
A.D. 370 the Huns move into Europe causing the Germanic peoples to flee into Roman territory.
A.D. 410 Germans invade and overrun Rome itself and plunder it for three days. Attila the Hun
In 444 the Huns unite under Attila and terrorize both halves of the empire.
In 452 the Huns advance against Rome, but fail in conquering the city due to famine and disease.

26. The West Falls Attila negotiated with Pope Leo I and withdrew
He died in 453 and was no longer a threat
Germanic tribes continued to invade and finally the west was no longer Rome
But the Eastern Roman empire will continue as the Byzantine Empire that will preserve Greek and Roman heritage.

27. Write 3 examples that demonstrate how the Roman Empire became weak and eventually fell Make sure the examples are not vague, like “military problems, economic problems or political problems”