Transcript The Legacy of the Roman Empire

The Legacy of the Roman
Empire
Reasons for the fall of the Roman
Empire in the west.
•Political Instability
•Economic and Social Problems
•Weakening Frontiers
Political Instability
Lack of peaceful
method for
transferal of power
Generals fighting for
control
Economic Problems
1. huge armies heavy taxes poverty
2. slaves unemployment poor flood to cities
3. trade declined
Social Problems
• 1. corruption and
government waste
• 2. decline in the
spirit of citizenship
• 3. crime made
roads unsafe
Weakening Frontiers
• 1. empire’s huge
size made it hard to
defend
• 2. barbarians move
inside empire
Rome is Divided
• 1. Constantine sets
up new capital in the
east at Byzantium
(Constantinople).
Byzantine Empire
last another 1000
years.
• 2. barbarians
invade in the west
and set up separate
kingdoms; last
emperor driven from
throne 476 C.E.
Rome Leaves a Lasting Legacy in
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Art
Architecture
Engineering
Language
Writing
Philosophy
Law
Citizenship
Art
1.
2.
Important Art Forms:
realistic statues, mosaics,
frescoes, decorative
bottles, gem cutting,
metal work and cameos
Art Forms that Influence
modern life: murals,
lifelike statues, cut gems,
and cameos
Architecture and Engineering
• Important Architectural
and Engineering
Achievements: arch, vault,
dome, concrete, stadium,
triumphal arch, roads,
bridges, and aqueducts.
• Architecture and
Engineering that Influence
Modern Life: designs of
churches, banks,
government buildings
(including our Capitol
dome), stadiums. Some
modern roads are built
over Roman roads and
some aqueducts are used
today.
Language and Writing
• Roman alphabet has
23 letters; English 26
letters (J, U, W)
• The numbers 1, 10,
100, and 1000 were
written as I, X, C, and
M.
• Roman language that
influences modern
life: proverbs, Latin
root words and
prefixes.
Latin Roots Used in English Words
Latin Root
Anima
Civis
English Word(s)
Animal, animated
Civic, civilian
Lex, legalis
Meaning
Life, breath, soul
Citizen,
community
Law, legal
Manus
Hand
manual
Militare
To serve as a
soldier
Military, militia
Portare
To carry
Portable, portion
Unus
One
United, union
Urbs
City
Suburb, urban
Verbum
word
Verbal, verbatim
legislature
Latin Prefixes Used in English Words
Latin Prefix
Meaning
English
Word(s)
In, im, il
Not
Inactive, impossible,
illogical
Inter
Com, co
Among, between
international
Together, with
Communicate,
cooperate
Pre
Post
Re
Semi
Sub
Before
After, behind
Back, again
Half
Precede, previous
Under. Less than,
inferior to
Submarine,
substandard
Trans
Across, through transportation
postpone
Remember
semicircle
Philosophy, Law, and Citizenship
• Important Roman ideas:
1. Live in a way that agrees
with nature
2. The only true good thing in
life is to have good character
3. Everyone has natural rights
• Ways Roman philosophy, law,
and citizenship have affected
modern life:
1. Some legal codes are based
on Roman laws
2. Many people today believe
in natural rights as stated in
the Declaration of
Independence
3. In the U.S., all citizens have
the same rights