...Decline of the Roman/Han/Gupta Empires Diverse Interpretations Assignment COMPARISONS TO FOCUS ON: * The causes for the decline of the Roman, Han and Gupta Empires * Understanding of how and why the collapse of the empire was more severe in Western Europe than it was in the Asian Empires. * Comparison of the role that religions played in the declines * The impact of missionary outreach of the Christians and Buddhists in these empires RESOURCES * Upshur – “The Decline of Empires” * Stearns - Decline of Empires. * Frank Smitha - “Decline and Fall” * Johnson and Johnson – “Why Don’t Empires Last?” * Spodek – “China and Rome: How do they compare?” * Bulliet pages 168-170 and 186-189. ASSIGNMENT 1. Construct a Venn comparing and contrasting the causes for decline of the Roman, Han and Gupta empires. Information will come from the documents and not the lecture…you already wrote the lecture notes once, why write them again? Rome Han similarities Gupta 2. Write 3 comparative analytical mini-paragraphs about the decline of empires. (generalization, facts, analysis…) Remember that analysis answers the question “why?” Example: The AP World History teachers have very different tastes in beverages. Ms. Forswall likes tea while Ms. Patch likes cola. Green tea and Earl Grey are Ms. Forswall’s favorites; they taste nothing like Pepsi or Coke because soft drinks are much sweeter. Ms. Patch usually chooses a diet style of...
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...transformed into a Republic of Chine in 1912. There was simple advantage of Chinese empire over Roman that made it everlasting, China as an Empire was united not only by the laws and military force but also by the culture, ideology and religion, what made Chinese empire one whole nation, whereas Romans were only united by the military forces and not by the cultural heritage that made Chinese empire so united. There are many theories why did Roman Empire collapsed, some of them might seem stupid for example some people think that Romans went crazy because they used led in pots and they ate food which was cooked in pots made of led, so they were poisoned by led and that’s why this huge Empire ruined. Despite these kinds of theories, almost every scholar and historian says that Rome failed as an Empire because of military exhaust, the new religion in the Empire, the division of society, economic crisis and bad leadership, but the main reason why Rome could not stand the moral and economic crisis was the lack of cultural identity. As it was already mentioned Rome was a unification of countries by strict laws and...
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...created this form of counting has survived for four thousand years. Another important event that happened there was the building of the tower of Babel the people built this tower to try and reach Heaven. It was most likely that the tower was used as a place of worship and to create a common religious Centre, Gods only merciful alternative was to separate the people into different languages and countries to disable there plans. Because he had also promised himself never to destroy the earth with floods again because of the disobedience of mankind. So the punishment was quite mild compared to the global flood. “Archaeologists have dreamed of finding the ruins of the tower but have been unsuccessful. There may be biblical evidence as to why they have not found this tower of extreme significance” (Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas) The story is much more than God simply interrupting a building project but it marks the origins of the languages and nations of the earth. “Babylon is even home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. They are in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II. The gardens were built on 23 meter tall and being water by a very complicated watering system, the water being provided by The Euphrates River” (Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas) They were a mountain like series of planted terraces. Excavations have found the elaborate pulley system watering the gardens right up to the top terrace. The...
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...void left by the collapse of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome grew even more in both power and prestige beginning in the sixth century and continuing to the reformation in the ninth century. It is the aim of this paper to explain how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power of the medieval world, the factors contributing to this dominance over Western Europe, and the positive and negative ramifications of the position becoming so powerful. Through this paper you will discover how papacy was able to fill the vacuum of power left by the fall of an empire. THE HOW AND WHY When the Roman Empire fell services that it previously provided were left untended. Additionally the political structures and authority of the government were left in ruins. This created a massive void in the culture of the empire. While the government collapsed, the Church survived and even thrived, remaining strong throughout the known world, but especially in Rome. Services previously provided by the government were now being delivered at the hands of the Church under the direction of the Bishop of Rome, which would become the position of Pope. Society turned to the Church for education, monasteries took in war-orphans, and peace and mercy were encouraged in matters involving the former empire and its conquerors. While the Roman Empire was falling, the Church was rising and society churned on both under the leadership and guidance of the Bishop of Rome. ...
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...City Paper 05/13/2016 Rome originally was a small town on the banks of the Tiber River, Rome grew in size and strength, early on, through trade. The location of the city provided merchants with an easily navigable waterway on which to traffic their goods.Greek culture and civilization, which came to Rome from Greek colonies to the south, provided the early Romans with way to build their own culture. From the Greeks they borrowed literacy and religion as well as the fundamentals of architecture. The Etruscans, to the north, provided a place for trade. Etruria was also well set for trade and the early Romans learned the skills of trade from by the Etruscans who were in the area around Rome. Early on, the Romans showed a talent for borrowing and improving upon the skills and concepts of other cultures. The Kingdom of Rome grew rapidly from a trading town to a prosperous city between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The ruling class in Rome called themselves Optimates or “the best men” while the lower classes, were known as the Populares or “the people”. In general, the Optimates held with traditional political and social values which favored the power of the Senate of Rome and the superiority of the ruling class. The Populares, favored reform and democratic side of the Roman Republic. Early forms of the Roman religion believed that spirits were in everything around them, even people included. The first citizens of Rome also believed they were watched over by the spirits of their...
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...The English playwright, John Heywood used the expression “Rome was not built in a day” to make the argument that great things take time to build. In the song “Clique”, Kanye West boasts, “so I just meditate at the home in Pompeii/about how I could build a new Rome in one day” (101-102). In these lines, the always hubris Kanye accepts Heywood’s challenge and plots how he can build a new Rome in one day. There is no question that Kanye cannot rebuild the Roman Empire in one day, nevertheless the real question is how could one of the most powerful ancient empires fall? Over the years, historians have attributed the fall of the Roman Empire to many different factors. I believe that immigration played the biggest role in the fall of the Roman Empire...
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...monarch’s legitimacy? Question 2: What understanding of the afterlife does the epic suggest? Question 3: How does the Epic of Gilgamesh portray the gods and their relationship to humankind? D. Read pp. 95 – 97: Code of Hammurabi Question 1: What sorts of social problems afflicted ancient Mesopotamia? Question 2: To what extent was Mesopotamia patriarchal? E. Read pp. 181 – 183 Question 1: What as distinctive about the Jewish tradition? That is, what was distinctive about Judaism, what made Judaism different from many other religions of the time? F. Read pp. 117 – 122 Identify and or Define: Empire, Indo-European, Iranian Plateau, Achaemenid, Cyrus, Darius, Ahura Mazda, satrap. Persepolis Question 1: Why is the motto “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness of night” a good example of cultural diffusion? G. Read pp. 122 – 124 Identify and or Define: Athens, Sparta, Plato, Aristotle, Zeus, Apollo, Hellenes, Olympic Games,...
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...papacy, this endured up until the 9th century. While there were both positive and negative ramifications of this reality, the biggest is the influence of papal authority and the effect that it had over Christianity. The collapse of the Roman Empire brought order to not only orthodoxy, but also the government. Throughout this essay, it is my desire to touch on these areas. In addition, I will also discuss some of the contributing factors to the dominion of Western Europe and what happened up until the Reformation. The effect of the barbarian invasion and the continuation of Western Civilization during the Middle Ages, is truly a time within history that impacts the church and its association with supremacy. The How And Why Of The Papacy And The Power It Had In understanding the significance of the papacy and the power it had, it only makes sense to begin with a good solid definition of it. “The term pappa, from which the word “pope” is derived, originated in ancient colloquial Greek as an endearing term for “father,’ and was then applied, beginning in the third century, to Eastern patriarchs, bishops, abbots, and eventually parish priests.” [1]. Throughout Rome and the Western part of the Empire, this term “became reserved for the bishop of Rome,” and later became “official in the eleventh century with the reign of Pope Gregory VII.” [2]. Walter Elwell, goes on to explain that the papacy was indeed a succession of the government and the Roman Catholic Church. While...
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...The Roman Empire had affirmed itself as maybe the best civilisation in the world by the second century A.D.. Rome was the unrivalled driving power in the ancient world as far as her social, political, monetary and military force were concerned where the happiest and most prosperous period was during the reign of Marcus Aurelius from 161-180 A.D.. The Roman Empire extended from the Iberian Peninsula to the Middle-East and from North Africa, covering extensive regions of the European continent. At the point when these terrific accomplishments are seen, little doubt remains just as a civilisation this impressive could never collapse. However, by the third century, the Roman Empire was confronting a time of emergency. This was vastly because of...
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...dogmatic, more artistic and more inclusive they were able to conquer the world. Since we have limited space in which to make our point, we will use religion, philosophy, politics and art in which to illustrate the magnitude of the influence of the Greeks and the Hellenistic cultures on the Romans. The Hellenistic times were a period of questioning our purpose in this world, why things happen, and what transpires after death. Consequently philosophers from many perspectives became popular and presented people with answers and a multitude of options that were being derived from all the Hellenistic societies surrounding the Romans. The political systems inherited from the Greeks became the inspiration for the Roman Empire’s republic and has become the cornerstone of democracies around the world today. Greek and Hellenistic art became the largest influence on every single aspect of Roman life, including their weapons, fashion and home decor. Professor Weber clearly gives the impression that the Romans “conspicuous consumption” was not a positive after effect of the Roman conquests because it changed the people of Rome from conservative, loyal and disciplined people to a spoiled rich populace whose main objective was partying, drinking, eating and wasting money. The book...
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...At its territorial height in the first and second century CE, the Roman Empire may have contained between 45 million and 120 million people. The Roman military can be viewed as one of the greatest armies in world history. Historian Edward Gibbon estimated that "the size of the Roman army most probably formed a standing force of three hundred and seventy-five thousand men, at the Empire's territorial peak in the time of the Emperor Hadrian." The Roman population slowly decreased because many barbaric tribes settled along the borders of the Empire and began sacking cities and attacking villages. By the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman military began to decay into tons of problems. Many factors contributed to the military decline of the Roman Empire, including a lack of discipline, financial problems, and poor military tactics and decisions by the empire. In result of these factors, barbarians were able to attack the walls of the empire with more ease because of the lack of defense. These barbarian attacks helped prone the efficiency of the army's defenses and tactics which impart the major downfall of the empire. A change in military tactics during the third and fourth century CE was central in the decline of the Roman Army. This left commanders and soldiers confused, this resulted as well in casualties and loses in war. Because of a controversial change in tactics and weapons, the Romans were virtually useless against these barbaric...
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...Roman emperors. As a result, the Jews and Christians endured centuries of hardship. That was until Constantine took control of Rome introducing tolerance throughout the empire. Throughout this paper the research will show how Constantine’s conversion to Christianity shaped and has continue to shape how Christianity spread throughout the World. Christian Life Before Constantine Before we can dive into how Constantine shaped the Christian world we need to talk about the life of a Christian before Constantine was emperor. A Christian’s life was not fully marked with persecution, as it is commonly believed. While Diocletian was sole emperor Christians lived in relative peace with the Roman government. Eusebius who described the time with extraordinary terms “the glory and the liberty with which the doctrine of piety was honoured” documented this fact. It was not until Diocletian shared the throne with Galerius that the empire began persecuting Christians again. The two of them convened in Nicmedia in 302 AD, and decided that Christianity needed to be suppressed throughout the empire. From this meeting between Diocletian and Galerius an edict came about that all churches needed to be demolished and that all Sacred Scriptures to be destroyed in the fire. This edict also declared that all Christians in honorable positions should be demoted if they did not denounce their faith.1 After this...
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...tAccess to History Online Edexcel Unit 1 – E3/F3 The Collapse of the Liberal State and the Triumph of Fascism in Italy, 1896–1943 Edexcel – AS GCE Unit 1: Historical Themes in Breadth Option E and F E3/F3 The Collapse of the Liberal State and the Triumph of Fascism in Italy, 1896–1943 General Advice for Unit 1 General Advice for Unit 1 Approaching Unit 1 Unit 1 answers require you to produce a reasoned, analytical essay that comes to a judgement as to extent, significance, importance etc. To reach a Level 5 answer of 25–30 marks you need to write an evaluative or integrated essay that answers the essay question set, showing direct understanding and backed up by detailed, accurate supporting evidence spread across the time period specified. You will almost certainly need to achieve at least one High Level 4 and a Level 5 answer to gain an A grade. Most candidates produce an essay which provides some of the above qualities but not all, achieving at least Level 3 (starting at 13 marks). You will almost certainly need to produce two Level 3 answers to gain an E grade. The key to gaining a good grade is to try to produce an essay with all the required qualities. However, before you can write your essay it is essential that you know your topic. In the specification (exam guidelines) each topic is divided into four bullet points across a specified period of time. You need to revise all the information for your topic because the questions asked can be about the whole topic...
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...The Rise of the Papacy The rise to power of the Papacy in the Roman Empire during the 6-9th centuries is crucial to the history of the church. There were many theories as to why the Papacy earned such central power. Included in these were the rise of the early church, and also the negative and positive effects of individuals related tot he government of the Roman Empire. Altogether it took many steps in a long process for the Papacy to gain such control. What is clear though is that the Papacy held firm control until the reformation. This paper will expand on the reasons for the rise of the Papacy in power, what allowed for it to thrive, and also negative and positive impacts on the empire and even the world. Fall of the Roman Empire There were many factors, and theories that are included when one is speaking of the fall of the Roman Empire. One of the first theories centers around disease and plagues. Some historians maintain that the Empire was crippled, as many diseases and plagues circled the Empire. They crippled families, workers and even members who were involved with the government. Another small factor may have been the decay of the army. The army say an increase in more German peoples, which may have altered the morale of the army, and even the size of the army itself. One large theory also centers around the government of the Empire. Many historians also believe that the Roman Empire set itself up for failure.(1) In the way that the...
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...sharply with that in the Hellenistic world, especially Egypt. In Greece and Egypt economic policy had gradually become highly regimented, depriving individuals of the freedom to pursue personal profit in production or trade, crushing them under a heavy burden of oppressive taxation, and forcing workers into vast collectives where they were little better than bees in a great hive. The later Hellenistic period was also one of almost constant warfare, which, together with rampant piracy, closed the seas to trade. The result, predictably, was stagnation. Stagnation bred weakness in the states of the Mediterranean, which partially explains the ease with which Rome was able to steadily expand its reach beginning in the 3rd century B.C. By the first century B.C., Rome was the undisputed master of the Mediterranean. However, peace did not follow Rome’s victory, for civil wars sapped its strength. Rome’s power hungry leaders and government lead to the downfall of their powerful civilization. Following the murder of Caesar in 44 B.C. His adopted son Octavian finally brought an end to internal strife with his defeat of Mark Antony in the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Octavian’s victory was due in no small part to his championing of Roman economic freedom against the Oriental despotism of Egypt represented by Antony, who had fled to Egypt and married Cleopatra in 36 B.C. As Oertel (1934: 386) put it, “The victory of Augustus and of the West meant... a repulse of the tendencies towards State...
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