Lesson 10-1

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• TN SPI– 6.5.7 Recognize major historical time periods

(Middle Ages of Medieval Period)– 6.6.2 Recognize the impact of individuals on

world history (Constantine)– 6.3.3 Identify the location of early civilizations on

a map

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Constantine

• Beginning with the rule of Constantine, two important changes affected the Roman Empire:– Constantine became a Christian and stopped the

persecution of Christians.– Christianity became the official religion of the

empire in 395 A.D.

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The Fall of Rome and the End of Ancient Civilizations

• Several things contributed to the Fall of Rome:

1.Weak, Corrupt Leaders2.Mercenary Army3.Size of the Empire4.Economic Problems (Inflation)5.Invasions

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Middle Ages or Medieval Period• All the empires we have

studied to this point have been referred to as ancient civilizations.– Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent– Egypt– India– China– Greece– Rome

• Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history until the Early Middle Ages in Europe.

• The Middle Ages or Medieval Period began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. and lasts to about 1500.

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Split of the Roman Empire

• Diocletian splits the empire into West and East.• Western Empire was reclaimed and small

kingdoms were formed• Christianity explodes across the region.• The Eastern Empire remained prosperous, and

formed the foundation of a new empire called the Byzantine Empire.

• A strong army, good government, and a rich economy helped give the empire a long life.

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Geography• The Emperor Constantine

moved the capital to Byzantium; later renamed Constantinople located on a strait called the Bosporus.

• The Bosporus Strait connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

• Europe and Asia meet at the Bosporus Strait.

EuropeAsia

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Byzantine Empire

• The people thought of themselves as Romans.– Preserved the architecture of Rome• Markets or forums• Public squares• Paved roads• Cathedrals• Palace• Public baths• Aqueducts• Cisterns (stored water)

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Byzantine Empire

• The people thought of themselves as Romans.– Remembered the greatness of Rome• Blend of Greek, Roman, and Christian influences

– Estimated population of a half-million– Fortress City (Evidence of a city wall)• Like Rome, the military strength of the Byzantines

contributed to the growth of the empire.

– Crossroads of Trade

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Crossroads of Trade

• The city of Constantinople was built at a major crossroads of land and sea trade routes.

• Goods filtered into the city from:– Kiev in the north (current day Russia)– Egypt in the south– China from the east

• Byzantines charged taxes on all goods that passed through the city.

• Over time, the empire grew rich.

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11Constantinople

Struggle for Control

• Two groups sometimes shared control and sometimes fought over the region:– Christian Byzantines– Muslim Arabs and Turks

*Religion caused much disagreement throughout Christian lands.

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