Chapter 6
The Transformation of the Classical World
I. THE VISUAL RECORD: A BRIDE’S TROUSSEAU
Third-century Romans combined elements of paganism with Christianity as aristocratic families prerved ancient cultural traditions. Nevertheless, a dramatic cultural change was taking place in the face of barbarian invasions.
II. THE CRISIS OF THE THIRD CENTURY
The Roman Empire experienced rious domestic and foreign threats to its existence during the third century. An over–extension of imperial boundaries, an archaic economic system, a shortage of ready cash, inflation, the uncertainty of imperial succession, and the inefficient collection of taxes worned imperial problems. The fate of Rome was increasingly bad on military success and the personal prence of the emperor.
A. Enrich the Army and Scorn the Rest
Military defeats encouraged soldiers to elevate their own commanders as emperor, beginning with Septimius Severus. Financed by the confiscation of natorial wealth and a devalued currency, the reforms of the military emperors entailed substantial increas in soldiers' pay, a greater governmental role for soldiers, and a rapid expansion of the army.
1. The Ri of the Military. Incread pay enabled soldiers to improve their living conditions and to climb the social ladder. Frontier ttlements also prospered becau of imperial larges.
2. Economic Disaster. Soldiers’ insatiable demands for higher pay led to massive currency devaluation and then inflation. Economic and political stability spread as soldiers supported and then overthrew a succession of emperors.
3. External Threats. The empire faced incread attacks by Berbers, Persians, and Germanic tribes like the Alemanni and Franks.
B. An Empire on the Defensive
Barbarian invasions show the weakness of the central imperial administration. In the power vacuum, provincial aristocrats often supported paratist movements like that of Postumus.
1. Tax Burdens. Sharp social divisions followed the growing political chaos as the nators, urban gentry, and military who constituted the honestiores evaded the growing burden of taxation, which fell increasingly on the rest of the population, or humiliores.生物研究
2. Banditry. High taxes drove many into banditry, not only on the periphery of the empire but throughout the empire. The government brutally suppresd resistance movements or Bacaudae. Nevertheless, Bulla the Lucky was popular for his efforts to help the poor. Another bandit, Maximinus, actually became emperor in 235.
C. The Barbarian Menace
No longer peaceful bands of farmers, Germanic barbarians organized into powerful military tribal confederations and launched numerous attacks upon the empire.
巡检制度1. Germanic Society. Living in patriarchal houholds looly organized into clans, German barbarians structured their social relations around regular individual and group warfare. One key element of personal conflict was the feud, each act of which required retribution.
2. Feuding and Peacemaking版面设计模板. Tribal leaders would later encourage the voluntary cash payment, or wergeld毕业生登记表自我鉴定300字, in lieu of blood vengeance. German tribes also encouraged unity through common cults, myths, and rituals, especially drinking bouts.
3. Warrior Bands. Barbarians ud the institution of the comitatus, or warrior band, in which warriors provided support and loyalty in exchange for their leaders’ generosity. Pursuing booty, the bands would break truces when they raided their neighbors. Occasionally, the 五年级上册第一课comitatus rved as the nucleus of a new tribe.
D. Roman Influence in the Barbarian World大学入党的流程
The Roman Empire itlf helped strengthen the tribes when it disrupted the balance of power between them.
1. The Lure of Roman Culture. Barbarian leaders traded their cattle for Roman gold and grain, and entered into military alliances with the Romans. The “federated” tribes saw the new developments increa the economic and political disparities within Germany.乐高教育
2. The West Germanic Revolution. The demand for military leadership encouraged the barbarians to transform their political institutions, so that war lords replaced traditional tribal kings. The resulting West Germanic Revolution saw tribes become armies and create pro- and anti-Roman factions.
3. The Gothic Confederation. Political change culminated with the Gothic confederations, who gave their king more military power. Germanic, Slavic, and Scythian peoples followed Gothic kings, allowing them to challenge Roman authority. The early third-century wars with the Goths proved to be more destructive to the Roman Empire than the later ones.
