Students will learn about:
the causes and effects of the vast expansion and ultimate disintegration of the Roman Empire.
the early strengths and lasting contributions of Rome (e.g. the significance of Roman law, Roman art, architecture, engineering, and philosophy; preservation and transmission of Christianity).
the geographic borders of the empire at its height and the factors that threatened its territorial cohesion.
the establishment by Constantine of the new capital in Constantinople and the development of the Byzantine Empire, with an emphasis on the consequences of the development of two distinct European civilizations, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic,and their two distinct views on church-state relations.
Web Resources
Meditations Meditations is a series of personal writings by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. From 161 to 180 , Marcus Aurelius wrote private notes and ideas while on military campaigns against the enemies of Rome. It is doubtful that Marcus Aurelius ever intended for others to read his notes. However, the twelve books do give us insight into the mind of a Roman emperor who studied Stoic philosophy.