HST 1100 Module 7 – Late Antiquity and the Emergence of the Medieval World

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HST 1100 Module 7 – Late Antiquity and the Emergence of the Medieval World What reforms did Diocletian and Constantine institute, and to what extent were the reforms successful? Diocletian split th... e empire into 100 provinces and 12 dioceses, each headed by a vicar. The 12 dioceses were grouped into 4 prefectures (tetrarchy), and the empire was split into 2: east and west. He instituted the policy that all Romans should participate in the imperial cult, worshiping the emperor. The Christians rebelled, and the Great Persecution ensued, but failed. Both Diocletian and Constantine strengthened the bureaucracy by separating the civil and military bureaucracies, and forced families to stay in the same occupation to raise money for the expensive army and bureaucracy. These reforms drained public funds, increased inflation, the city councils declined, farming declined, and restrictions were placed on the lower classes' freedom. Constantine moved the capital to "New Rome", aka Constantinople and converted to Christianity. What changes did the Germanic peoples make to the political, economic, and social conditions of the Western Roman Empire? What were the main features of Germanic law and society, and how did they differ from those of the Romans? The Germanic tribes built states that blended elements of German customs and laws with Roman culture. Intermarriage was common, fusing together different peoples and cultures. Over time, this decreased Roman standards of civilization and commercial activity. Catholicism began to rise in popularity. Germanic law became personal (wergeld). Extended family was very important, males were dominant and made all decisions. The gap between men and women widened, with women's main purpose being domestic labor and childbearing. During this time, adulterous women were punished and adulterous men were not. How and why did the organization of the Christian church and its relations with the state change during the fourth and fifth centuries? What were the chief characteristics of Benedictine monasticism, and what role did monks play in both the conversion of Europe to Christianity and the intellectual life of the Germanic kingdoms? By the end of the 4th century, Christianity was the predominant religion in the Roman Empire. Bishops exercised considerable power in the church, and popes claimed authority over the church. Emperors viewed themselves as representatives of God, and influenced the church's organization and structure. The weakness of political authorities led to the church's independence on the Italian peninsula. Church was viewed as the highest authority, over the government. [Show More]

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