Roman_Empire

After the demise of the Roman Empire three distinct cultures stepped up to fill the void left by the once powerful empire. The three cultures that took the place of the Roman Empire were Islamic, Byzantine, and western European cultures.1 These cultures had their similarities and differences from the Roman Empire. These cultures took it’s place after years of political, economic and political separation of the empire. After the Roman Empire officially became Christian at the end of the fourth century, the Empire was split into two sections, Eastern and Western Rome.2 As the Germanic people continued to overrun the western half of the empire, it eventually collapsed. Roman rule still dominated in the east, which became the Byzantine Empire by the early sixth century. The Byzantine Empire “remained economically vibrant and politically.”3 Leaders of the empire did everything in their power to preserve Roman traditions.4 Constantinople became the hub of the eastern Roman Empire. It was named after the first Byzantine emperor, Constantine. Constantine’s rule differed from previous Roman rulers, mainly due to his view of himself as being above citizens, and being a monarch, viewing the citizens as his subjects expecting to be honored as a god.5 Previously Roman rulers did not dress or rule, such as Constantine did, because they viewed themselves as citizens, not as a greater power.6 When Constantine started to rule, approximately half of the eastern empire was Christian. His religious views helped him unite his empire. The Byzantine ruler Justinian, who proved to be the most influential, wanted to recreate the old Rome. By conquest he regained North Africa, Italy, and the Balkans.7 He ensured that parts of old Roman society remained in the Byzantine Empire, old myths and legends were told, there was an educated class and government was maintained.8 Justinian forced remaining polytheists to convert to Christianity, if they did not they would lose their land, political power, and jobs. Eastern Rome had strong Christian religious views as they did before Rome was divided, however there were several other religious groups in the area due to migration. These different cultures often resulted in violence between the opposing religious groups.9 A merchant named Muhammad created the second culture that replaced the Roman Empire, Islam; previously Arab people had different beliefs and were not unified in any way.10 The term Islam means “submission to God” and it required followers to believe in one and only one god, they called this god Allah.11 Islamic followers had to pray five times a day facing in the direction of Mecca, they were expected to give charity to the less fortunate, fast from food, drink, and sex for the month of Ramadan, and go on a pilgrimage to Mecca in their life time.12 Women were welcomed into the religion, and were given more rights than they previously had. Unwanted newborn girls could no longer be killed. Men with more than one wife were forced not to take favor one over another. Women were now also entitled to inheritance. However, like before, women were not given the same social life as men.13 Prior to Christianity the Roman Empire was a polytheistic society, meaning that they worshiped many gods. People in Rome who believed in these polytheistic gods believed heavily in these gods, and their beliefs shaped the way they lived their lives day to day.14 Belief in the ancient gods of Rome required frequent sacrifices and festivals to their gods to keep them happy.15 Christians were often given a hard time for their beliefs because of this Christians and believers in previous Roman Gods often clashed in violent ways, polytheists often thought of their religion as being more pure and that Christianity accepted sinful people.16 The collapse of the Roman Empire resulted in the western empire being divided into several kingdoms.17 Through this struggle for power in the west, out of all the western European peoples, the Franks proved to be the greatest power. They established themselves in Gaul and had expanded their rule to France, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Belgium.18 In these kingdoms power was held by kinship, churches, and royal courts.19 In some places the church was even more powerful than royalty.20 The life of the citizens and government of the west was still noticeably Roman.21 Frank queens also held power. One Queen named Lady Balthild remained in power for six years, until her son was of age to take over the kingdom.22 While the east was under different rule, the buildings and roads of ancient Rome still existed. However, what were once busy cities were now empty and unmaintained. Roads were deteriorating, causing trade to rely on transportation by water.23 While Roman traditions and values still existed after the fall of Rome, many of them were modified to fit with the changing times and needs of the Islamic, Eastern European, and Byzantine cultures. These traditions and cultures caused needs for new and improved religions and beliefs that formed the basis of the new cultures, allowing them to be successful in growth and development of power in their new states. Many aspects of Rome, and the three new cultures, are still prevalent in today’s world. -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. 3 Hunt et al, 198. [ 2 ]. 4 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 226. [ 3 ]. 5 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 226. [ 4 ]. 6 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 199. [ 5 ]. 7 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 245. [ 6 ]. 8 Hunt et al, 245. [ 7 ]. 9 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 226. [ 8 ]. 10 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 238. [ 9 ]. 11 Hunt et al, 238. [ 10 ]. 12Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 241. [ 11 ]. 13 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 242. [ 12 ]. 14 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 205. [ 13 ]. 15 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 207. [ 14 ]. 16 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 238. [ 15 ]. 17 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 252. [ 16 ]. 18 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 253. [ 17 ]. 19 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 252. [ 18 ]. 20 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 253. [ 19 ]. 21 Hunt et al, 253. [ 20 ]. 22 Katherine J. Lualdi, Sources of The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St.Martin’s 2010), 162. [ 21 ]. 23 Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith, The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, a Concise History 3rd ed. (Boston, MS: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2010), 254.