Unit 2: The Fall of Rome and the Rise of the Byzantine Empire

Unit Objectives:

  • Introduce the main features of Roman society, government, law, army, trade, transportation, science, arts, literature, and language.
  • Explain the main reasons behind the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
  • Evaluate the attempts of Constantine and Diocletian to slow down the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
  • Relate the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire to our world today.
  • Describe how the Roman Empire’s legacy was continued through the Byzantine Empire.
  • Identify the factors that contributed to the growth and strength of the Byzantine Empire.
  • Identify Justinian and explain his role in strengthening the Byzantine Empire.
  • Discuss two contradictory views on  Justinian.
  • Relate the factors that led to the rise of the Byzantine Empire to modern examples.
  •  Explain how the Christian Church came to be divided in 1054 CE.
  • Summarize the major disagreements between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church
  • Discuss the cultural heritage of the Byzantine Empire and how it reflects the importance of religion during that time.
  • Identify the causes of the decline of the Byzantine Empire.