The End of the Roman Empire

Study Notes

Ancient Rome: Monarchy (753 BC), Republic ruled by the Senate (509 BC), and eventually an Empire ruled by an Emperor (27 BC).
Barbarians:
- Huns: Nomadic animal herders who attacked Germanic people, leading to Germanic migration across Roman borders.
- Germanic People: Nomads, farmers, and livestock breeders; they lived near Roman borders due to a milder climate and the riches of the empire.
3rd Century Crisis in Rome:
- Barbarian Pressure: Germanic tribes crossed Roman borders due to Hun attacks, creating military weakness and mass migration.
- Empire's Maximum Expansion: Resources and trade routes were stretched thin, resulting in fewer slaves, less spoils from war, and less labor.
- Depopulation of Cities: People moved to rural areas to escape conflict and economic hardship.
- Impact: Theodosius divided the Roman Empire in 395 AD, leading to the Western Roman Empire (Rome) and the Eastern Roman Empire (Constantinople).

Historical Evolution:
- 6th Century (Justinian, 527-565):
  - Period of great prosperity.
  - Reunited the Roman Empire (recaptured lost territories).
- 7th Century: Beginnings of decline as wealthy provinces were conquered by Muslims.
- 11th Century: Deep crisis, leading to the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Government and Administration:
- Emperor (Basileus): Military, administrative, and religious leader.
- Specialized Officials: Carried out the emperor's orders.
- Corpus Juris Civilis: A unified legal system, ensuring common laws throughout the empire.
- Provincial Administration: Provinces were governed by political and military leaders.

Basis: Agriculture, with large estates (latifundia) owned by nobles and monasteries, worked by serfs.
Craft Production: Specialty goods such as luxury items, often traded throughout the empire.
Commerce:
- Strategic location between Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
- Traded goods include:
  - Silk (from China)
  - Ivory and pearls (from India)
  - Amber, furs, and wheat (from Northern Europe)

Hierarchy:
- Emperor
- Patriarch of Constantinople
- High Clergy, palace nobility, and military nobility
- Artisans, merchants, soldiers, and free peasants
- Servants or slaves

Iconoclast Struggles (8th-9th Century):
- Dispute: Debates over the use of icons (religious images).
- Conflict: Led to social unrest.
- Outcome: The cult of images was ultimately re-established.
Eastern Schism (11th Century):
- Separation: Split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
- Dispute:
  - Power struggle between the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope of Rome..

Architecture:
- Materials: Primarily brick.
- Columns: Used for support.
- Arches: Semicircular.
- Church Plans: Rectangular, square, octagonal, or Greek cross shape; emphasized centralized plans.
Mosaics:
- Use: Decoration for walls and domes of churches.
Icons:
- Description: Religious images painted on wood, often using gold.
- Subject Matter: Depicted religious scenes and figures.

Construction:
- Massive dome - unprecedented size for its time.
- Used a unique mixture of architectural elements to support its weight (pillars, arches, pendentives, and smaller domes).
- A ring of 40 windows in the dome's drum created a spectacular effect.
Significance: One of the most impressive and influential examples of Byzantine architecture.