Chapter 6: The Transformation of the Classical World

• The 200 year period of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire ended with the murder of Emperor Commudus
• Roman Empire was weakened in the 3rd century by internal and external conflicts
  • Emperors were weak and corrupt
  • Army kept switching their allegiances from emperor to emperor
  • Majority of the Emperors didn’t live long
  • Resources were strained
  • The Empire was too large to manage efficiently
  • High inflation rates
  • Emperor gained more dictatorial powers
• The size of the army grew in the 3rd century
  • Soldiers were raised to the highest level of public power, no matter their birth
• The Roman Empire faced internal violence and external threats from Germanic barbarians
• Germanic society lived in small villages
  • Lived in patriarchal households
  • Pagans/Polytheistic
  • While husbands were at war, women managed the lands and household
  • Made up of clans
• Imperial organization in the late 3rd century allowed for the empire to regain stability
• Empire was divided into parts as it was too great to be ruled as a whole
• There are many different theories on the fall of Rome, with it being impossible to pinpoint just one cause
  • Political, social, economic, or militaristic conflicts
  • Barbarian invasions
  • Decreased prestige of Senate
  • Abolishment of political rivals in upper classes
  • Christianity
• Despite half of the Empire falling, the other half went on to survive for another 1000 years

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