Unit 3 Declining Civilizations Flashcards
Historical Figures: Diocletian
He was a Roman emperor. Diocletian’s reign stabilized the empire and marked the end of the Crisis of the Third Century. The Diocletianic Persecution was one of the official persecutions of Christianity. However it did not destroy the empire’s Christian community; but it strengthened it and Christianity became the empire’s preferred religion under its first Christian emperor, Constantine.
Historical Figures: Constantine
Constantine was the first Christian emperor and was the first emperor to claim conversion to Christianity. This weakened the Roman empire because the Romans believed in the “gods” but now they were forced to follow one god.
Historical Figures: Caesar Augustus
Considered the first Roman emperor and initiated an era of relative peace. Augustus dramatically enlarged the Empire.
Historical Figures: Alaric
Alaric I was the first King of the Visigoths. Alaric is best known for his sack of Rome in 410, which marked a decisive event in the decline of the Roman Empire.
Historical Figures: Jesus of Nazareth
Okay so it’s just Jesus Christ. He was born in the Roman Empire. He claimed to be God’s son which caused him to be arrested and tried by Jewish authorities because he went against their beliefs of multiple god’s which was one of the causes of the fall of the Roman empire.
Historical Figures: Pope Urban II
Okay sooo, he was a Pope. He’s best known for initiating the First Crusade and setting up the modern-day Roman Curia.
Historical Figures: Paul the Apostle
Commonly known as Saint Paul and he’s considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. He founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences.
Historical Figures: Muhammad (PBUH)
Prophet and founder of Islam. Also God’s messenger. Muhammad united Arabia into a single Muslim polity and ensured that his teachings, practices, and the Quran, formed the basis of Islamic religious belief.
Historical Figures: Isabelle and Ferdinand of Spain
Queen of Castile. She was married to Ferdinand II of Aragon. Their marriage became the basis for the political unification of Spain. She reorganized the governmental system, brought the crime rate to the lowest it had been in years, and cleaned the debt. Isabella and Ferdinand are known for completing the Reconquista, ordering conversion or exile of their Muslim and Jewish subjects in the Spanish Inquisition, and for supporting and financing Christopher Columbus voyage that led to the opening of the New World.
Historical Events: Sacking of Rome
The Sack of Rome occurred on August 24, 410. The city was attacked by the Visigoths led by King Alaric.
Historical Events: The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars lead by the Latin Church. In the wars, Christians from Europe fought Muslims for control of Jerusalem and other holy places.
Historical Events: Edict of Milan
The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire.
Historical Events: Rise of Christianity
At first, the Roman’s felt threatened by Christianity and at times, Christians were persecuted under Roman rule. However, Christianity spread, which was only possible because of the unification of the Mediterranean’s trading system achieved by the Romans, (people could communicate all over the Mediterranean) This helped people like St. Paul get the word out about the new faith.
Historical Events: Spanish invasion of Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus, known as Muslim Spain. For much of its history, al-Andalus existed in conflict with Christian kingdoms to the north. After the fall of the Umayyad caliphate, al-Andalus was fragmented into a number of minor states and principalities. Attacks from the Christians intensified and ultimately, the Christian kingdoms in the north overpowered the Muslim states to the south.
Historical Events: The Black Death
Came from Asia and it is said that the disease was carried in the rats fleas. The black death caused a downfall in Medieval Europe because so many people died that there were no jobs which meant there was nobody to produce food which meant there was no food. Because everyone was dead, there was nobody to enforce law and people just let loose in the country areas.
