History of the Ancient and Medieval World

“The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”

Edward Gibbon (1776*)

Walsingham AcademyMrs. McArthur

Room 111*"Another damned, thick, square, book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh! Mr. Gibbon?" (William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, upon receiving the second volume from the author, 1781)

In-Class Activity• Should I take the mid-term exam? (Jan. 5

deadline)

• Where are we in our study of the Ancient and Medieval World? – What is History?– What happened to Rome?

• Required project: Choose 1 (Jan. 7 deadline)1. Book cover project (technology-based, creative, collaborative)

2. Bronze Bow (open-book, knowledge-based test + inter-disciplinary discussion session with theology personnel)

In-Class Activity, cont.

What is the study of history? Consider:– What does one study? (contents)– How does one study? (methods and skills)– Why does one study? (purpose)

Assignment 11. Read: What is History and accompanying PP notes on SPA

2. Answer: Question on next slide

3. Project: Study the options and making a choice (1/7)

4. Make-up Exam: Observe the deadline (1/5)

Question: What is History?According to your reading, “conscientious historians are aware of the pitfalls in their search for historical truth and they try to avoid them.”

What are some of the problems that this reading discusses which help us understand the limitations of

history.

Assignment 2• Read text, pp. 175-177.• Define: mercenaries, Huns, 378 and 476 C.E.• Summarize the multiple causes of Rome’s decline

in the West by completing the graphic organizer on the next slide.

Reminders: 1. Sign up for project choice; sign up for after school

constructive criticism of cover or for Bronze Bow discussion session.

2. Book Cover Project due Wed. 1/19– Electronic and hardcopy (covers)– 1-page letter, hardcopy

Decline of Rome(in the West)

Political Causes1.2.3.4.

Social Causes1.2.3.

Economic Causes1.2.3.4.

Military Causes1.2.3.

In-Class ActivitiesThe Exhausted Empire

1. According to Salvian, how did Romans living in areas overrun by the barbarians feel about the barbarian conquests? Surprising?

2. What are 4 problems mentioned?

3. What does the image at top of text, pp. 173 suggest about Roman power?

Historians have offered many theories for Rome’s demise in the West. Consider some of the views offered on your sheet.

1. Which ones may be added to your graphic organizer?

2. Which ones need additional “arrow(s)”? Create and complete.

•Decadence and Disease

•Size and complexity

•Role of the “Other” (barbarians everywhere)

•Christianity: Being Number One

•Imperial Overstretch

“The Decline”: Problems of Success(and the theories)

Decadence and Disease

•The problems of wealth: luxury, escapism, pleasure seeking

•Fewer Romans: Falling birth rate

•Ill Romans: e.g. lead poisoning, epidemics.

Size and Complexity•Maintaining far-flung infra-structure (roads, aqueducts)

•Problems of communication and coordination

Imperfect Solution = Division (Diocletian)

late 3rd century AD

“The Other”: Barbarians in our midst

•Were all barbarians the same?

•What impact did they have?

•Can we manage without them?

“Rome did not fall, it was transformed.”

Attila

Barbarian Invaders

•4th Century: Triumph of Christianity

(from 5 to 30 million believers)

•The Price of Success: Controversies and Heresies

Christianity: Being Number One

•Can cultures become exhausted? What happens when many are “bored?”

•When things come unstuck: retreat and division

•Retreat from Britain (407 A.D.)

•Portions of empire lost to Roman control

•What happens when there seems to be a loss: of will, of confidence, of shared vision?

Imperial Overstretch

•410 A.D. Barbarian, Alaric, sacks Rome

•476 A.D. Barbarian (Odoacer) deposes last “Roman” Emperor

“The Fall”: Defining Moments(in the West!*)

*The Roman Empire lives on for another 1000 years in the East!

It is known as the Byzantine Empire.

By the 5th century, something big and centralized had indeed broken up in the West.

But Rome’s culture and many of its images lived on-in religion, languages, customs, law.

Conclusion: Did Rome “fall?”

Rome did not “fall;”

it morphed into a new world order in western Europe.

Assignment 3• Study the map, pp. 178-9 along with PP

slides 9-10. (Good Audio Summary : Follow interactive link.)

• Answer the 3 questions, Thinking Critically.

• What is the purpose of the timeline on pp. 179? According to the timeline, what do the dates 410, 455 and 476 tell us about Rome?

• How does Jerome describe the Huns?

Assignments 4/5• Project Preparations• Check your knowledge. Follow link.

Reminders: 1. Sign up for project choice; sign up for after school

constructive criticism of cover or for Bronze Bow discussion session.

2. Final Book Cover (multimedia) Project due 1/19– Electronic and hardcopy (covers)– 1-page letter, hardcopy