Transcript The Fall of Ancient Rome and the Rise of the Middle Ages

THE FALL OF ANCIENT ROME
AND THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE
AGES
Ancient Rome
Polytheistic: Believe in many Gods
 Julius Caesar: First in a long line of Roman
Emperors
 Octavian Augustus: Emperor as Rome enters
the Pax Romana – a time of relative peace
and unity

Christianity
Jesus Christ: Talks to everyone about the
promise of eternal life to all if they love
God, their neighbors and themselves
 Peter: The “rock” on which the Church will be
built
 Paul: Messenger who preaches and spreads
the beliefs of Jesus

Christianity
Pontius Pilate: Sentences Jesus to death
because he is a threat to the Roman Empire
 Nero: Roman Emperor who persecutes
Christians
 Constantine: Roman Emperor who stops
persecution and issues the Edict of Milan
which declares Christianity the “official”
religion of the Roman Empire. He moves the
capital to Constantinople which leaves the
Western Roman Empire vulnerable to attack.

The Middle Ages
Monotheistic: Believe in one God
 Germanic Tribes: Invade the Western Roman
Empire and disrupt trade and weaken cities
 Charlemagne: Spreads Christianity through
his conquests and builds an Empire that
crumbles upon his death
