Roman Empire to its Fall Flashcards
Edict of Milan
enacted decree of freedom of religion –> led to legalization of Christianity
Hagia Sofia
“Holy Wisdom” / the center of religious, political, and artistic life for Byzantine world / originally a Christian cathedral, but turned into a mosque
Constantine
first Christian ruler, reunited Eastern and Western parts of the Roman Empire
Arianism
christian sect that rejected Holy Trinity, believed the Son and Holy Spirit were subordinate from the Father
Pagan
practices of polytheism in Rome / opposition to Christianity
Sassanid Persians
a new Middle Eastern Power that results in the collapse of Arsacid Parthians / Rome’s primary rival
Aurelian
Roman emperor best known for military successes / did more for plebians than any Roman empire through distribution of free food
Battle of Adrianople
visigoth rebellion leading to 20,000 Roman deaths and a very badly damaged Roman reputation
Shapur the Great
leader of the Sassanid Persians
Atilla
talented warrior of HUNS - rules with brother, but soon becomes sole king / known for ruthless attacks on Western Rome
Commodus
“The Gladiator” / uniterested in administration or soldiering / crude, extravogant, arrogant, megalomaniac who declared self new Hercules/Romulus –> poisoned on New Years Eve / reign marked the beginning of the decline of the Roman peace
Late Antiquity
new historical age –> Classical to Medieval
Donatism
one of the Christian sects that emerged in North Africa / argued that the church should be a pure, unblemished community
Claudius Gothicus
(Claudius II) made major improvements to Rome’s judicial system, passed laws to protect sick slaves, extended citizenship and increased women’s privileges / died of plague
Institutions
structures that governed the Empire: The Roman Senate / Magistracies / The Popular Assemblies / The Imperial System / Religion and Priesthood
Caracalla
emperor who focused heavily on military affairs and sought to strengthen the army / overly paid soldiers to increase loyalty, but strained the empires finances / gave roman citizenship to all inhabitants of Rome
Battle of Milvian Bridge
battle between Constantine I and Maxentius, which led to Constantine’s conversion due to his vision to conquer Maxentius
Helena
Constantine’s devout Christian mother who discovers the “true cross,” created traditions of royal pilgrimage, and founds the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Romulus Augustulus
the last Roman emperor of the West / “puppet emperor” / the final chapter in the decline of the Western Roman Empire
Barracks Emperors
26 emperors in 49 years w/ legitimacy only through soldiers
Marcus Aurelius
first emperor to have adult co-emperor / splits emperor’s responsibility / further expands who can be emperor / last of the Five Good Emperors
Novellae
a series of laws issued by the Byzantine emperors / address new legal issues after the Corpus Juris Civilis was created
Corpus Iuris Civilis
(Justinian Code) / a comprehensive compliation of Roman law that sought to preserve and organize the body of Roman law
Codex Theodosianus
a collection of Roman laws issued under the direction of the Eastern Roman Emperor, Theodosius II / basis of Roman law
Patriarch
the title given to the bishop of Rome who holds a special position within Christianity as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church
Berbers
indigenous ethnic group native to North Africa / “free people” / many tribes integrated into Roman Empire
Chi-Rho
christian symbol to represent Christ (looks like an X with a P going through it)
Battle of Strasbourg
battle led by Emperor Julian and Germanic tribes which demonstrated the military strength of Julian / climax of Julian’s campaign
Ammianus Marcellinus
Roman soldier who fought for Julian / wrote the history of the late Roman Empire / last great Latin historian / “Pagan”
Julian
made to be the junior ruler of Constantius II and has many victories w/ army / wants to restore Roman traditions and renounces Christianity
