The Late Empire and the Decline of Rome
                     

I.  Decline after the Age of Augustus
  A.  corruption among patrician class
  B.  decadence of society
  C.  barbarian threat: Franks, Gauls, Goths
  D.  static economy
  E.  army became a drain on the economy
  F.  latifundia grew, tenant farmers increased



  G.  The Crisis of the Third Century
       anarchy & external threat weakened empire
  H.  The Barracks Emperors
        26 emperors in 50 years


II.  Diocletian           
   A. 284 A.D. -- reorganized the empire
          Diocletian's Division of the Empire
      i.  The Tetrarchy     2 emperors &  2 caesars
      ii. ** intended to insure orderly succession


      iii. established oriental despotism
      iv. eastern empire wealthier / easier to defend
      v.  center of power shifted east
   B.  forced people to stay in jobs / wage and price controls
   C.  303 A.D.  -- persecution of Christians
   D.  Struggle for power after Diocletian
II. Constantine
   A. 312 A.D.  The Battle of Milvian Bridge
       claimed he saw a vision in the sky -- converted to christianity


   B.  313 A.D.  The Edict of Milan  --  tolerance for Christians


   C.   capital moved to Byzantium / Constantinople
   E.   the Germans
      i. some warlike, others wanted alliance with Rome --
         

      ii.  Huns   nomads -- put pressure on German tribes    
          372 A.D. crossed Volga, conquered Ostrogoths


      iii. The Visigoths  (western Goths)  -- entered empire 376 A.D.
          Goths Enter and Settle Within the Roman Empire
          a. The Battle of Adrianople -- 378 A.D. -- revealed Rome's weakness
          b. Alaric and The Sack of Rome 410 A.D., Gaul, Spain -- 455 A.D.


      iv. Rome began pulling troops from Rhine frontier, Britain
          a.  The Franks  -- northern Gaul
          b.  The Lombards  -- northern Italy -- 568 A.D.
          c.  The Ostrogoths  (eastern Goths)
          d.  The Vandals  Spain and North Africa -- 429 A.D.
          e.  Angles and Saxons invaded Britain
          f.  Huns reached Rome 451 A.D.


      v. Romulus Augustulus -- deposed by Odovacar 476 A.D.
      vi. German and Roman cultures
         
VI.  Theories about the Fall of Rome
          moral decay
          Christianity weakened Romans
          political corruption
          lead poisoning
          economics
          Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:
         

    Christianity and its impact on Rome
I. Pompey ended civil war in Palestine and put it under control of a Roman governor
   A. Herod the Great 37 B.C. - 4 B.C.
   B. Pontius Pilate procurator 26 A.D. - 36 A.D.
   C. prophets told of a messiah


II. Jesus spread his message -- greeted by some as Messiah
    A. condemned to death
    B. message carried by disciples


III. Jewish revolt 66 A.D.
    A. massacre of Roman garrison
    B. Romans crushed rebels in Jerusalem 70 A.D.
    C. Jewish state absorbed by Rome
IV. Paul of Tarsus
    A. persecuted Christians
    B. converted to Christianity
    C. spread Christianity among non Jews
V. spread of Christianity
    A. Romans open to new beliefs
    B. Jesus was human not a mythic being
    C. promise of eternal life
    D. all believers equal / not limited to wealthy
    E. Christians faced torture and death with courage


VI. persecution of Christians
    A. Rome tolerated religious beliefs from conquered lands
    B. Christians monotheistic
    C. Christians refused to worship Roman gods -- subversive
    D. Christians refused to fight for Rome
    E. Nero blamed Christians for fire in Rome
    F. Diocletian promoted persecution 303 A.D. - 311 A.D.