The Roman Empire

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West had longer barbarian frontier

Persians civilized and signed treaties

East had money to pay off invaders

Eastern boundaries easier to defend

Constantinople a fortress city

Slide 24

Barbarian Invasions

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The End of Antiquity

The fall of the Roman empire traditionally marks the end of the period of Antiquity

Upcoming time periods

Middle Ages/Renaissance

Byzantine empire

Moslem empire

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“A close study of each of these dead civilizations indicates that they usually started on their road to glory because of fortuitous circumstances exploited by a strong, inspiring leader. The nation then carried on for a period under its own momentum. Finally, creeping vanity led the people to become enamored of their undisputed superiority; they became so impressed with their past achievements that they lost interest in working for further change. Soon their sons, coddled in the use of all the great things their fathers and grandfathers had pioneered, became as helpless as new-born babes when faced with the harsh reality of an aggressive and changing world.”

—Eugene K. Von Fange, Professional Creativity

Slide 27

Thank You

Slide 28

Post-Constantine Period

Theodoric the Great

Chief over the Ostrogoths

Conquered Odoacer and declared himself king of Rome

Bothius

Writer who summarized Euclid, Archimedes, Ptolemy, and Aristotle into Latin

The Ostrogoths’ reign

Ended shortly after Theodoric’s death

The eastern part of the empire lasted 1000 years

Slide 29

Slide 30

Julio-Claudians

Tiberius (14-37 AD)

Adopted son of Augustus

Designated successor

Reigned well

Retired due to opposition

Sea of Tiberius—Sea of Galilee

Slide 31

Julio-Claudians

Caligula (37-41 AD)

Descendent of Augustus

Played solider as a boy

Nickname Caligula— “little boot”

Thought to be insane

Claimed to be all the gods at once

Murdered after insulting the army

Slide 32

Julio-Claudians

Claudius (41-54 AD)

Born in Gaul (Lyon)

Lame and stuttered, so as a child avoided people

Married Agrippina, and adopted Nero