Chapter 15: Rome’s Decline and Legacy
Chapter Objectives
Analyze the decline of the Roman Empire and the legacy it left for the world.
Lesson 1: An Empire in Decline
- Summarize the weaknesses that emerged in the Roman Empire following the death of Marcus Aurelius.
- Describe Diocletian’s attempt to strengthen the empire by dividing it.
- Analyze Constantine’s ongoing efforts at reform in the Roman Empire.
- Language Objective: Identify the problems that led to the decline of the Roman Empire.
Lesson 2: The Fall of the Roman Empire
- Describe the status of the two Roman empires following the permanent split in A.D. 395.
- Describe the effects of the ongoing invasions by barbarian groups on the Roman Empire.
- Summarize the events of the fall of Rome.
- Language Objective: Identify details that explain life during the fall of the Roman Empire.
Lesson 3: The Byzantine Empire
- Summarize the history of the Byzantine Empire.
- Describe how the Byzantine Empire preserved Roman culture.
- Describe the division of the Christian church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
- Language Objective: Compare and contrast details of selected people, characters, events, and ideas.
Lesson 4: The Legacy of Rome
- Analyze the artistic and cultural legacy of Rome.
- Analyze the technological and architectural legacy of Rome.
- Analyze the legal and religious legacy of Rome.
- Language Objective: Skim the text, classifying details by category to make the text more meaningful.
