final draft

Rome went from being a small town in Italy to being the center of a vast empire. This took hundreds of years and many wars. Eventually it was bound to fall; it’s a long fall from the top. This fall was extremely painful and hurtful for the Romans. The Roman Empire started to decline after the pax romana, which was a 200 year long time of peace. The Roman Empire fell from the top and this was tough for them.

“After Commudus was killed by one of his guards, then they sold power to the highest bidder. This led to chaos every time a leader died. All leaders became dictators, and almost all were eventually killed by their guards. The Roman Empire had 26 leaders in the next 50 years” (Mr. Sedivy). Leaders had to pay their army well to keep them happy so that they would fend off invasions. This led to high taxes and inflation. Borders were left open as Romans fought among themselves. Germanic tribes invaded, Persians took Roman lands, and Gaul tried to become independent. This was the start of the decline of the political and economic strength of the Roman Empire.

“After Commudus’ death the politics in Rome went into chaos” (Mr. Sedivy). Wealthy aristocrats paid for positions in the government; as a result they raised taxes on the poor and cut aid for those in poverty. These acts caused even more corruption. This corruption even broke up the armies of Rome; there was infighting between the armies which caused Rome to be easily infiltrated. Germans and Persians invaded Roman lands. Also Gaul’s tried to separate from the Roman Empire (Mr. Sedivy).The Huns also threatened Rome, and then were paid off and then they still attacked Rome. Vandals also attacked Rome and sacked it (N.S. Gill). Also the economy of Rome went to shambles because the new leaders heavily taxed the citizens.  This caused inflation which even furthered the debt that the citizens of Rome were in. This was a hard hole for Rome to dig itself out of but they tried.

Diocletian,( who was elected by the army) and Constantine were the main leaders in the reform of the politics and economy of Rome,( Mr. Sedivy). They did this in a number of ways. One of which was government workers had to keep the same job for life. Also their children had to have the same job. A political aid was moving the capital of the empire to Constantinople now known as Istanbul. Diocletian also separated the empire into two separate parts which spread power over more representatives. This made it easier on the leader. It helped educate leaders on the different cultures and necessities of different areas.

In conclusion many things led to the fall of Rome. But most of all was the end of the Pax Romana.  Remember that the Pax romana was a 200 year time of peace throughout the Roman Empire.  Other reasons for the fall like the corrupt politics and economy. Diocletian and Constantine were the two main benefactors for bringing the Roman Empire out of the hole that it dug for itself. In the end Rome had fallen and it took a long time to get back up to the greatness they had once achieved.

Works cited

Mr. Sedivy, Initials. (n.d.). World history rise and fall of the roman empire. Retrieved from http://mr_sedivy.tripod.com/r_decline.html

gill, ns. (n.d.). Fall of rome timeline.. Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/tablescharts/a/120610-Fall-Of-Rome-Timeline.htm

rough draft

Rome went from being a small town in Italy to being the center of a vast empire. This took hundreds of years and many wars. Eventually it was bound to fall; it’s a long fall from the top. This fall was extremely painful and hurtful for the Romans. The Roman Empire started to decline after the pax romana, which was a 200 year long time of peace. The Roman Empire started to decline right after the pax romana.

After Commudus was killed by one of his guards, then they sold power to the highest bidder. This led to chaos every time a leader died. All leaders became dictators, and almost all were eventually killed by their guards. The Roman Empire had 26 leaders in the next 50 years, (Mr. Sedivy). Leaders had to pay their army well to keep them happy so that they would fend off invasions. This led to high taxes and inflation. Borders were left open as Romans fought among themselves. Germanic tribes invaded, Persians took Roman lands, and Gaul tried to become independent. This was the start of the decline of the political and economic strength of the Roman Empire.

After Commudus’ death the politics in Rome went into chaos. Wealthy aristocrats paid for positions in the government; as a result they raised taxes on the poor and cut aid for those in poverty. These acts caused even more corruption. This corruption even broke up the armies of Rome; there was infighting between the armies which caused Rome to be easily infiltrated. Germans and Persians invaded Roman lands. Also Gaul’s tried to separate from the Roman Empire. (Mr. Sedivy) Also the economy of Rome went to shambles because the new leaders heavily taxed the citizens.  This caused inflation which even furthered the debt that the citizens of Rome were in. This was a hard hole for Rome to dig itself out of but they tried.

Diocletian,( who was elected by the army) and Constantine were the main leaders in the reform of the politics and economy of Rome,( Mr. Sedivy). They did this in a number of ways. One of which was government workers had to keep the same job for life. Also their children had to have the same job. A political aid was moving the capital of the empire to Constantinople now known as Istanbul. Diocletian also separated the empire into two separate parts which spread power over more representatives. This made it easier on the leader. It helped educate leaders on the different cultures and necessities of different areas.

In conclusion many things led to the fall of Rome, but most of all was the end of the Pax Romana. Diocletian and Constantine were the two main benefactors of bringing the Roman Empire out of the hole that it dug for itself.

Mr. Sedivy, Initials. (n.d.). World history rise and fall of the roman empire. Retrieved from http://mr_sedivy.tripod.com/r_decline.html

daily

How did the Roman Empire change after the Era of the Soldier Emperors.

The roman government turns into a tetrarchy mean four leaders. They did this because they thought no single man could be as good as previous leaders had been.  This worked for a little while but then turned into fights over power within the four emperors . This is a problem because a government will never work if there is infighting.  The roman empire eventually broke into two pieces, Eastern roman empire and Western roman empire. Easter roman empire is also know as  the byzantine empire. That is one of the reasons the age of tetrarchy  lasted only for only a short time.

daily

1. Required Daily: How does Early Christian and Byzantine portraiture represent both a continuation of and a break from the past? Look up the Fayum Portraits and the Ravenna Portrait of Justinian as a starting point for your thinking.

The difference between the old art and new art is the improved use of the third dimension. The new art seems like It has been done by more professional artist who also incorporate shadow and human anatomy. The new art is in my opinion is the art is more realistic and better representing the human body. The art also carries on some of the old tradition like what the pictures were of, most pictures depict a single person or a scene of battle.

essay final

Seneca remained calm during the time while his death was impending. While other men would have been worried crazy.Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control ones emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic. 

 "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends," (Tacitus)this shows that he was un moved by many tragedies and that he had friends who he could rely on and who cared about him. In his time of need his friends came to his help to take the will from their stoic friend. It is hard to imagine that someone's friends could realize the importance of taking his will since they probably couldn’t sense a tone in his voice.  That is one of the downfalls and greatest advantages of being a stoic, others can not sense the fear in you.

 He also seemed like he though others didn't endure pain or hard ship also. "preferring the interest of any private citizen to his own safety, and he had no natural aptitude for flattery. No one knew this better than Nero, who had oftener experienced Seneca's free spokenness than his servility.(Tacitus)  This shows that Seneca did not "watch his mouth" as you could say . He said whatever cam to mind. He also was not there to compliment anyone, just there to speak the truth. This is one reason he was a good friend, because he would always speak the truth to his close friend Nero and give him advice.  It also seems like he cant see the happiness that flattery can bring a person.

 "Having spoken these and like words, meant, so to say, for all, he embraced his wife"(Tacitus) Although Seneca was a very strong  stoic he still showed some emotion and feelings towards his wife. Although he felt emotions he did not show the feeling of sadness or emotional pain. This could be a good and a bad thing. The good part would be that when he and his wife are fighting he does not feel the emotional pain and suffering. But this is also bad because when he is hurt emotionally he will internalize it and will not know how to deal.

Seneca was a perfect example of a stoic, whether it be near death, with his wife or with his friends. He never showed that he felt any hardship or adversity Which happens to be one of the main characteristics of being stoic. Stoicism can be a good thing and a bad thing, it really depends on the situation.

tacitus, Initials. (65 ce). The death of seneca.

class essay

Stoicism is the ability ti endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control ones emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic. He remained calm during the time while his death was impending. While other men would have been worried nuts.

 "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends," (Tacitus)this shows that he was un moved by many tragedies and that he had friends who he could rely on and who cared about him. In his time of need his friends came to his help to take the will from their stoic friend. It is hard to imagine that someone's friends could realize the importance of taking his will since they probably couldn’t sense a tone in his voice.  That is one of the downfalls and greatest advantages of being a stoic, others can not sense the fear in you.

 He also seemed like he though others didn't endure pain or hard ship also. "preferring the interest of any private citizen to his own safety, and he had no natural aptitude for flattery. No one knew this better than Nero, who had oftener experienced Seneca's free spokenness than his servility.(Tacitus)  This shows that Seneca did not "watch his mouth" as you could say . He said whatever cam to mind. He also was not there to compliment anyone, just there to speak the truth. This is one reason he was a good friend, because he would always speak the truth to his close friend Nero and give him advice.  It also seems like he cant see the happiness that flattery can bring a person.

 "Having spoken these and like words, meant, so to say, for all, he embraced his wife"(Tacitus) Although Seneca was a very strong  stoic he still showed some emotion and feelings towards his wife. Although he felt emotions he did not show the feeling of sadness or emotional pain. This could be a good and a bad thing. The good part would be that when he and his wife are fighting he does not feel the emotional pain and suffering. But this is also bad because when he is hurt emotionally he will internalize it and will not know how to deal.

week six daily

Required Daily: Read Tacitus' description of the Death of Seneca and Book One of M. Aurelius' Meditations. Find quotes within those two texts that help explain what Stoicism is all about.

 "preferring the interest of any private citizen to his own safety, and he had no natural aptitude for flattery. No one knew this better than Nero, who had oftener experienced Seneca's free spokenness than his servility."  This shows that Seneca did not "watch his mouth" as you could say . He said whatever cam to mind. He also was not there to compliment anyone, just there to speak the truth. "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends," this shows that he was un moved by many tragedies and that he was not a good decision maker he just turned to his friends so he could please the people around him. "Having spoken these and like words, meant, so to say, for all, he embraced his wife" Although seneca was pretty dang stoic he still showed some emotion and feelings towards his wife.