1. The fall of the Roman Empire

2. In 64 CE, Rome was destroyed by fire. The emperor Nero laid blame on Christians. This was the beginning of the persecution

3. The persecution lasted from 64 to 392 CE. The empire was declining and Romans needed a scapegoat. Christians refused to worship the emperor and were an easy target.

4. Acceptance of Christianity was gradual. In 312 CE the roman general and future emperor constantine embraced Christianity and became its protector.

5. When Constantine became emperor, he issued the edict of Milan which decreed religious freedom in the empire

6. In 384 ce, the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Of course, worship of the old roman gods was now outlawed!

7. The emperor diocletian divided the empire east and west. The eastern part was dominated by greek culture and the western part by latin.

8. By the late 300 ce, german barbarians were flooding the empire. Some came for economic opportunity, others to escape the huns.

9. The invasions were more of an unorganized mass migration over a long period of time. The empire could not support this huge new population.

10. The huns were fierce nomads from asia that went from place to place pillaging. They put tremendous pressure on everyone in the roman empire

11. In 476 odoacer, a german barbarian took the crown from the roman emperor. The empire was impossible to sustain but lasted 1000 years.