Transcript Document
T h e A m e r i c a n U n i v e r s i t y o f R o m e HST 201 - Survey of Western Civilization
I
Session 9 Late Antiquity and the Decline of the Western Roman Empire
The euphemism of the
Pax Romana
With Augustus The Crisis New structure The start of the long final crisis Rome’s legacy continues in the East Theodosius 337 In provincial regions 200
p.99
Crisis in the empire during the 3
rd
century
Political events > Succession, Marcus Aurelius-Commodus; > Civil and military unrest…Military reinforce their hold of power, dictatorship (as we know it now): Septimus Severus (
Forma Urbis
); > Caracalla gives Roman citizenship to all free citizens (
out of the blue
), is able to enlarge tax base; Dio, cited by Garnsey (200., 134):
Crisis in the empire during the 3
rd
century
Political events (more)
> The central role of women in the imperial Severan family does not help; > 235 284 Period of civil war, “barrack” emperors; (http://www.livius.org/ei-er/emperors/emperors03.html) > First serious invasions, 251, Goths. Then 260 defeat by the Sassanid Persians (Valerian) and then Roman vengeance (Gallienus, his son).
> Disillusion of the population-citizens with the idea of Rome and its welfare – regional differences within the empire… secessionist movements.
<
Gallienus and the representation of emperors in the age on “anxiety”
> The western provinces of Gaul and Germany set up their own Gallic Empire under Postumus.
> Claudius II, called Gothicus, and the next emperor, Aurelian (270), self proclaimed 'restorer of the world', brought the divergent parts of the empire back under their control. But the reunification did not halt the constant usurpations and rebellions.
The Role of Emperor The tradition was that since the first emperor, Augustus, Roman emperors had drawn upon dynastic, military and religious legitimization when presenting their position of power.
De Jong, studying Egyptian documents (Egypt is still a Roman province), suggests that from Diocletian onwards, the position of emperor clearly acquired a different character: the emperor became more of an absolute monarch and ruled by the grace of god. This is closely related to the crisis and upheaval in the empire.
Constantine and his Christian entourage will show the change.
Crisis in the empire during the 3 rd century Economic facts > Debasement of currency…grants to the armies (
Enrich the armies…scorn the rest
); Inflation; > Excessive taxation of civilians in the provinces. Then, low productivity in all activities; > Decline of civic prosperity; > Disease and plague in the provinces; > Slave population decreases; low birth rates; > Increase in the burden of compulsory public service; > Increased demands for annona militaris; > Reversion to taxation in kind; > Decrease in agricultural productivity; > Technological advances in a slave-based society;
http://en.allexperts.com/e/r/ro/roman_empire.htm
Solution to the crisis: Reorganization of the Empire, Diocletian’s Tetrarchy, 284 AD > From
princeps
(the first citizen, the caretaker) to
dominus
(lord), the openly autocratic emperor; “bombastic” propaganda; > Rules of succession and sharing governing (and defense) responsibilities. Creates Augusti and Caesars. Followed, after his death, however, by war of succession; > Separate military from civilian spheres of power (Senate in completely overshadowed)…distancing the military from decision-making (kingmaker) roles; > Regulation of the economy (but, also hereditary professions, including the army…) > Reforms tax systems…special corps > Moves administration to Nicomedia, because of the wealth and prosperity of the east.
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1p4iRkswKU_U9yfAUElks2H6CXgAGblb0 duJt3FSmdlU1WBWC7MJW7nyjhvg7d00XpQip9iP67j8
Constantine, and his harmful restructuring of the Empire (if he had had the survival of the West in mind…) > Christianity enters into the political play…emperor not only as god, but by the will of god; > Reunifies the empire. Fights against his peer to gain control of all the lands; > Then, reinstitutes hereditary succession. He is succeeded by his three sons that divide the territories, and immediately confront each other in politic as well as religious issues (just as the father had done); > Combined with the political decision to concentrate his efforts on the richest and most promising areas; the structure of Italian Rome has become too complex (i.e. too much invested in private interests; > Theodosius concludes another period on instability by reunifying the empire and declaring Christianity official. But the peace is short lived as he divides also the empire…natural/cultural east-west divisions…plus secessionist adventures…
Q of chapter 6 > What where the principles by which Diocletian reformed the Roman empire?
> How did Christianity become the majority religion within the Roman empire?
> What major changes did Christianity undergo during the fourth century?
> Why did the Germanic invasions succeed?
> What distinctive themes of western Christian thought were emerging during the 4th and 5th centuries?
> How was classical culture Christianized?
> Why did Justinian's plan to reunite the Roman empire fail?
>
How many stages can you establish in the management strategies of the Roman empire?