Warm-up #8
• Why do you think Christianity eventually
became tolerated and even popular in the
Roman Empire?
• What types of problems do you think Rome
would face as it grew?
Christianity Reader
• 1) The Pantheon was the name for the Roman
Gods.
• 2) Persecution is discrimination based on religion,
ethnicity, or other factors.
• 3) Christians were persecuted by being, abused,
killed, crucified, attacked by animals, burned, and
excluded from society.
• 4) Constantine helped the spread of Christianity by
accepting it as his faith and ending persecution.
Roads, common language helped it spread, etc…
• 5) He had a vision of winning a battle under the
sign of the cross.
Third Century Crisis
Funding and Corruption
Foreign Invasion
• Corruption occurred as rulers bribed
soldiers to fight for their individual
interests.
• Decreased value of coins
• Stopped using coins and bartered.
• People stop paying taxes.
• Germanic tribes raid Northern and
western towns and villages.
• Persians attack from the East.
3rd Century
Crisis
Feuding
- After Severus Alexander’s
assassination, dozens of military
leaders fight the throne causing
a series of Civil Wars.
Freaky Disease
Factions
• Plague of Cyprian devastates towns and
villages
• Territories of Rome declare independence.
Diocletian Saves the Day
• Reformed military
– Makes army to deploy when
needed
– Split groups and spread them
across the empire.
• Economic solution
– Increase value of coins.
– Edit on Maximum sets prices
• Establishes the Tetrarchy –
divides empire in half then
sets four different emperors
across the Empire.
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuKSi8_w-hw
Division of Rome under Diocletian
Diocletian’s Tetrarchy
Glimpse into the Future
Diocletian Cartoon
• On a separate piece of paper….
• Draw a political cartoon or comic showing:
– The five problems the Roman Empire faced in the
Crisis of the 3rd Century.
– Diocletian’s three solutions
– Diocletian dividing the empire.
• Provide a caption explaining what Diocletian’s
lasting legacy (how he saved Rome and what he
is remembered for).
Diocletian X-Ray
• Design an “X-ray” or cartoon of Diocletian.
• At his feet show the five problems the Roman
Empire faced in the Crisis of the 3rd Century.
• Hear his head Diocletian’s three solutions to
solve the 3rd Century Crisis.
• At his hands Diocletian dividing the empire.
• Provide a caption explaining what Diocletian’s
lasting legacy (how he saved Rome and what he
is remembered for).