1. Aim: How did the Roman Empire divide and start to decline?

2.  German barbarians from northern Europe  Empire too big to control  Army weakened and empire poorer

3.  A.D. 284 – Emperor Diocletian  Divide empire into east and west  East – Egypt, Greece, and Palestine – Roman name for Judea  Rome no longer most important city  Power shift from west to east

4.  306 – Emperor Constantine  Reunited Roman Empire  Empire based in Constantinople (modern day Turkey)  Easy to protect  Trade

5.  Persecuted by emperors (went against Roman gods)  312 – Edict of Milan - Constantine granted religious freedom to Christians

6.  410 – northern people’s soldiers take Rome  476 – last Roman emperor is removed from throne  Eastern/Byzantine Empire lives for 1,000 years more  Greek influence  Eastern Orthodox Church  ristianity  No belief in the pope

7.  Laws and government  Republic  Languages – Latin  Architecture – domes and arches  Christianity