The Roman Empire and Its Crisis

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Questions and Answers

What event in 235 CE marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century?

The establishment of Rome as an empire in the 1st century BCE

The expansion of the Roman Empire into Europe

The division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves

The assassination of Severus Alexander by his own troops (correct)

What was the primary reason for the succession crises in the Roman Empire from the 3rd century CE onwards?

The expansion of the Roman Empire into Europe

The lack of a clear heir to the throne (correct)

The constant civil war and Germanic raids

The establishment of Rome as an empire in the 1st century BCE

What was the reason for the legionaries to lose respect for the Emperor and kill him?

He paid a ransom to the Germanic tribes raiding the East

He was involved in a civil war with the Sasanid Empire

He raised taxes on the legionaries

He paid a ransom to the Germanic tribes raiding the West (correct)

What was the name of the plague that affected the Roman Empire from 249 to 262 CE?

The Plague of Cyprian Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the Roman Empire officially split into Eastern and Western halves?

395 CE Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Caesar in each half of the Empire?

A deputy ruler who worked in tandem with the Augustus Signup and view all the answers

Who was declared Emperor of the independent Gallic Empire by his troops in 260 CE?

Postumus Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the Crisis of the Third Century?

The division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the breakaway states to no longer support the Roman Empire?

The constant Germanic raids Signup and view all the answers

What did Constantine do to the Tetrarchy?

He ended the Tetrarchy Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the year 395 CE in the history of the Roman Empire?

It was the last time the Roman Empire was divided into separate empires and the division would never be unified again Signup and view all the answers

Who did Theodosius I leave the Empire to after his death?

His sons Arcadius and Honorius Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Tetrarchy created by Diocletian?

To create a more stable political administration Signup and view all the answers

Why do some historians consider the fall of the city of Rome in 476 CE to be the end of the Empire?

Because it ended the Latin-speaking empire centered in the city of Rome Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire?

The splitting of the Empire into two halves Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Roman Empire and Its Split

The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most influential empires in human history, setting the foundation for political and legal systems in the Western hemisphere.
The empire expanded from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE, encompassing much of Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Crisis of the Third Century

The Crisis of the Third Century began in 235 CE with the assassination of Severus Alexander by his own troops, leading to a succession crisis and a period of instability.
The crisis was characterized by severe economic depression, acute inflation, and low tax revenue, resulting in increased bartering and a lack of trust in Roman currency.
The period was also marked by constant civil war, as many would rise up and attempt to claim the imperial title, including the Barracks Emperors and Dynasties.
The plague of Cyprian, a viral infection similar to Smallpox, Ebola, or Influenza, ravaged the empire from 249 to 262 CE, dropping the population of Alexandria from 500,000 to around 190,000.

The Breakaway States

In 260 CE, Emperor Valerian was captured by the Sasanid Empire, leading to his death in captivity and another succession crisis.
Postumus, a military commander, was declared Emperor of an independent Gallic Empire by his troops, while Odenathus was declared governor of Syria and other eastern provinces.
The Gallic Empire and the Palmyrene Empire were breakaway states that were no longer supportive of the Empire due to constant Germanic raids.

The Tetrarchy

Diocletian, who took power in 284 CE, created the Tetrarchy, a system of rule by four, to end the Crisis of the Third Century.
The Tetrarchy split the Roman Empire into an eastern and western half, with each half having two rulers, an Augustus and a Caesar.
The west focused on defeating Germanic incursions, while the East focused on defending against Persia.

The Final Split of the Empire

Constantine rose to the rank of Caesar and eventually became Emperor Constantine the Great, ending the Tetrarchy and unifying the Roman Empire.
The Empire was united for a brief time, but it would eventually split permanently about fifty years after Constantine's death.
Theodosius I, who rose to power in 379 CE, oversaw a peaceful time in the Empire, but his death led to political intrigue and instability.
Theodosius' sons, Arcadius and Honorius, split the Empire for the final time, giving the west to Honorius and the east to Arcadius.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

There are different arguments about when the Roman Empire fell, with some considering the fall of the city of Rome in 476 CE to be the end of the Empire.
Others look to the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, and identify the fall of the Roman Empire as 1453 CE, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks.
The splitting of the Empire into two nominally independent states is also seen as a cause for the fall of Rome, as the two halves were not equal, economically or demographically.

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Description

Explore the Roman Empire's expansion and crisis, from its foundation to the 3rd century CE, and its impact on Western political and legal systems.