Reading 113: COLLAPSE OF ROMAN EMPIRE and BARBARIANS

Diocletian

The Roman emperor who rose from a low status to power, implementing administrative reforms and dividing the empire into eastern and western halves.

Edict of Milan

A decree issued in 313 by Constantine that legalized Christianity and granted religious freedom.

Council of Nicaea

A council convened in 325 that addressed theological disputes, particularly the Arian controversy, and produced the Nicene Creed.

Arianism

A belief that Jesus Christ was a created being, distinct from God the Father, which was contested at the Council of Nicaea.

Hagia Sophia

A monumental church built during Justinian's reign, symbolizing the height of Byzantine architecture and Christianity.

The Battle of Adrianople

A significant military defeat of the Roman army by the Goths in 378, marking a turning point in the decline of the Roman Empire.

Justinian Code

A codification of Roman laws created by Justinian I that greatly influenced future legal systems.

Iconoclasm

The conflict over the use of religious images in the Byzantine Empire, leading to a ban on images and subsequent restoration of their veneration.

Wergild

A practice among barbarian tribes involving compensation paid for crimes, emphasizing social harmony.

Christianization of Barbarian Tribes

The process whereby barbarian groups, such as the Goths and Franks, adopted Christianity, significantly impacting European culture.

City of God

A theological concept developed by Augustine contrasting the divine city and the earthly city, reflecting humanity's relationship with God.

Judeo-Christian heritage

The cultural and religious legacy that combines elements from Judaism and Christianity, crucial to the formation of Western civilization.

Ambrose

An influential bishop who defended the independence of the Church and played a key role in the conversion of Augustine.

Divided Empire

The separation of the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves, aimed at improving governance and defense.

Theodosius I

The emperor who made Christianity the official state religion and suppressed paganism, creating significant tension with church leaders.