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Late Roman Empire. Fall of (Western) Rome. Emperor lives at Constantinople 313 Edict of Milan – religious freedom 410 – Alaric (Master of Soldiers) of the Visigoths (Arians) sacks Rome 409-429 – Vandals (Arians) invade Spain, then took all of northern Africa. Attila the Hun, 440s.
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Fall of (Western) Rome • Emperor lives at Constantinople • 313 Edict of Milan – religious freedom • 410 – Alaric (Master of Soldiers) of the Visigoths (Arians) sacks Rome • 409-429 – Vandals (Arians) invade Spain, then took all of northern Africa
Attila the Hun “Scourge of God” • 445 – Attila takes over Huns from brother Bleda • Terrorized central and northern Europe and Central Asia, Eastern Romans paid tribute • 451 – lost Battle of Catalaunian Plains to combined Roman and Visigoth forces • 452 – Pope Leo I persuaded him to not attack Rome
Merovingian Dynasty of The Franks • 486-507 – Clovis conquers many parts of Gaul • Clovis = Louis • Converted to Roman Catholicism
Meanwhile…over in the East • Justinian – “Last of the Romans”, Empress Theodora ruled alongside wisely • Roman Emperor from 527-565 • Builds Hagia Sofia (correction) • Belisarius – favorite general, successful in Persia and winning back Africa from Vandals, won Italy back temporarily • Stopped use of Latin in government, used Greek • Most famous for codifying Roman civil law
After Justinian • High taxes to pay for western wars • Persia attacked Byzantines • 632 - Emperor Heraclius eventually prevailed, sacks Persepolis • Both empires devastated, unprepared for invading Muslim armies from Arabia • Many territories too tired, gladly accepted new rulers
The state of the West • Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals all weakened • Franks (the least Roman-educated group) poised to fill the vacuum left • Christianity still the predominant religion • Pope still in Rome