Why the Roman Empire fell
Why did the power of Rome decline?
Because of a weakened government, a failing economy, and invasions by Germanic groups.
Who do historians consider was the greatest Byzantine emperor?
Justinian
From what language do spanish, french, portuguese, italian and romanian come from?
Latin
A young preacher and teacher from the town of Nazareth
Jesus
What were the reasons the government weakened?
Emperors had to pay increasingly higher wages to the soldiers to keep their position in government or else they were killed.
Officials accepted bribes (sobornos) and wealthy Romans stopped paying taxes
Why was Constantinople wealthy?
Because of its location between Europe and Asia
What religion started in the Roman Empire?
Christianity
Jesus' followers were known as:
disciples or apostles
Why did the Germanic tribes (for example, the Visigoths) migrate and invade the Western Roman Empire?
They were looking for better land for raising livestock and farming, but most were fleeing the Huns, warriors from Mongolia.
How did empress Theodora being active in the government help women have more rights?
She urged her husband to allow married women to own land.
What are two important contributions to law that the romans have given us till this day?
Everyone is equal under the law and a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
What method did Jesus use for people to understand his ideas better?
Stories called parables
After emperor Theodosius, the Roman Empire was divided in 2. What were the names of the two empires and their capitals?
Western Roman Empire: Rome
Eastern Roman Empire: Constantinople
How did emperor Justinian change the politics and law of the Byzantine Empire?
By having legal scholars simplify and better organize the Roman Law by making a new code of laws called the Justinian Code.
What architectural features from the Roman Empire can still be seen in government buildings to this day?
Arches and domes
After what event did Christianity start to spread?
After Jesus' resurrection and his followers spreading his teachings
Why was Constantine an important emperor?
He continued the reforms that Diocletian had started and moved the capital of the empire to the city of Byzantium, later known as Constantinople (in honor of him).
From which cultures did Constantinople take influence and how?
First from the Romans, and this could be seen in their buildings and homes, and by the use of Latin as the official language.
Much later, they took more influence in the Greek culture by using their language.
Romans were the first to use this material to construct roads and buildings
Concrete
When and why did the Romans want to arrest Jesus?
During the celebration of Passover in Jerusalem. Because they were threatened by his influence.