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History of Western Civilisation - Tuesday 7th Period: Discussion 6: The Roman Empire

All right, class. Since I rotted your brains last Wednesday with popular culture disguised as history, I thought we'd get back on track today with a good solid discussion of the end of the Roman Empire.

As I said last week, the fall of Rome did not really mean the end of the Roman empire. The Byzantine Empire -- which you will hear about tomorrow -- lasted for another thousand years and always considered itself a continuation of old Rome.

But the cession of Rome as a superpower changed the face of history in Western Europe.

[[OOC: OCD threads are ~~coming~~ up!!]]

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Do it. You know you want to.

Rome achieved its greatest expansion under the Empire. Why was the Empire a more conductive form of government for expanding boarders than the Republic? Did the very fact that expansion seemed to work better under a dictatorship result in the rule by Emperors? Remember, that for the last few generations before the Empire officially began, various charismatic personalities were effectively dictators of Rome.

Religion underwent a massive change in the Empire. Before, as in most cultures, religion was a matter of personal preference, as long as you also included the state religion in your devotions (or, at least, did not openly dismiss it). But after Constantine, Christianity became the state religion and allowed no rivals. What effect did Christianity have on the fall of Rome? In the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire? In Western Europe after the fall of Rome?

Hmmmmm?

Bring a proposal for a class activity that allows you to act out a period or periods of history. Anything we've studied so far is fair game. Best proposal will be implemented before the end of the semester. (100 words or more.)

I'm here, are you?

Supercalifragilistickexpialidocious

Janet signed in. She may as well put the pen stuck to her hand to some use, after all.

Maybe her hand wouldn't stick to something if she wrote a note. But passing one was going to be hell.

Archie signed in and wondered why Janet seemed to be so attached to that pen. It didn't seem like all that fancy a writing implement . . .

Isabel signed in and went to the back of the room.

Isabel stood near the back wall of the classroom, very carefully not leaning in a way that would trigger unwanted side effects.

Sakura signs in.

Chim-Chim-ery, Chim-Chim-ery

Lyta signs in.

It wasn't even one of her favorite pens. Janet glared at it, then shrugged when she noticed Archie staring at her.

She might have tried to surreptitiously shake the pen out of her hand, but the ripped piece of paper stuck to her index finger was probably a little too noticeable.

"You okay?" asked Janet, coming to the back of the room. Hey, she could excuse it as TA duties, right?

"Totalitarianism often allows for greater control of the social structure and the channeling of all possible assets into military expansion," said Janet. "However, eventually the cycle becomes self-defeating and conquered areas are stripped of resources in order to perpetuate the almost-endless warfare and colonial expansion."

"Christianity didn't allow for the state religion," said Janet. "I'd imagine the emperors saw that as a direct threat to their temporal power, rather than a challenge to religious views. Though I'm sure it didn't help that the Christians wouldn't have recognized a Roman rule as a god after he died."

She sometimes wonders what forces in the Roman empire were influenced by Egeria.

"I'm fine," Isabel said, rolling her eyes. "I've just fallen victim to the weirdness that's going around. If I sit? I bounce. So I'll just stay back here out of the way."

"Me too, during first period," said Janet. She held her hand up, the palm facing down. Her pen was sticking to her hand. "I don't dare touch anything with my hands." She leaned against the wall and sighed. "What's going on?"

"I have no clue. Cam's seeing in black and white, Mac is turning paper into tortilas, Lana can tell you the chemical composition of anything she tastes. If we all team up, I bet we could make an interesting team of superheroes." And because she wasn't paying attention, she actually relaxed enough that her butt rested against the wall. So she bounced forward. "Oh, joy," she said dryly. "Do you think Dr. Pierson would mind if I sprawled out on the floor?"

Quinn signs in.

"If you see any of them, tell them to let Parker know about it if they don't already," said Janet. "If this is the prelude to a weekend of being attacked by supervillains with equally lame powers, I'm going to--" She paused and frowned. "Actually, I don't know what I'm going to do. But if you have to sprawl on the floor so you don't bounce, then do it. I'll back you up if Dr. Pierson starts making fun of you."

Janet does not suggest recreating the fall of Rome or Boadicea's rebellion. Or creating a giant wicker sculpture and giving burnt offerings of living humans in a druidic ritual. Nor does she write a proposal for a primitive Beltane ~~orgy~~ feast or re-enacting the siege of Troy, complete with giant horse. Or even a mini-crusade. But she's tempted.

Instead, she turns in a lovely, 100 word proposal for a Roman feast. And because she's feeling inspired, she also includes a second, slightly longer proposal for a simplified Egyptian 'mummification' ceremony. She doesn't even suggest that they use real dead bodies for it. ~~Which she thinks would be fun, but she guesses that everyone else would dislike. Spoilsports.~~

"I'll let them know," she said. "And somehow the attack of the lame superheros just doesn't have the same sound as attack of the snow monsters." She shook her head, "I'll pass on the sprawling for now. I'm not sure what would be more embarassing, the bouncing or being mocked by Prof. Pierson."

"I don't know, it could be the most comedic invasion we've had so far," said Janet. "Though I heard from Professor Tick that the new fish in the lobby are actually aliens who started possibly the most incompetent invasion of the planet ever." She laughed. "Don't worry about Dr. Pierson. He's a softie."

Broots signed in.

Molly signed in.

"Alien fish?" Isabel asked. "You've got to be kidding me." And no, she did not wonder if they were relatives.

"Unless Professor Tick was kidding me, no, I'm not," said Janet. She grinned. "Apparently we got to name them as extra credit."

"Because the dictator can direct where the focus of the government is. In this case, expansion. There's no need to lose focus by taking care of the petty small things like infastructure, or feeding the population. Of course the smart dictators did pay at least some attention to those details. Because an unhappy populance is probably one of the quickest ways to lose power."

Isabel debated writing up a proposal about building recreations of the pyramids the next time it snows. But she figured that a) it was getting too late for their to be any more serious snow storms and b) people had had enough snow after the snow monster attack.

Instead she turns in a proposal for recreating some Roman entertainments, ~~no, not an orgy!~~ like gladiator combat and chariot ~~shopping cart~~ races. This could all be followed up by a feast ~~TOGA PARTY!!!!!~~.

Harry signs in

"And there are several emperors who lost power -- and their lives -- that way. On the other hand, you have Augustus, who committed the considerable resources of the empire to improving peace and prosperity after devastating civil war. A great deal of the success of subsequent emperors can be attributed to his wise rule -- and let me point out that "august" did not mean "wise" until after his time." Methos looks at her quizzically. "Ms. Evans... why are you standing?"

For a minute Isabel considered lying and saying she'd fallen and brusied her tailbone but then she mentally shrugged and went with the truth. "There's an epidemic of weird going on, sir. And unfortunately, if I sit, I bounce. It's probably best for all of us if I just stand back here out of the way."

Methos blinks at her again. "Right. Go right ahead."

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History of Western Civilisation - Tuesday 7th Period: Discussion 6: The Roman Empire

SIGN IN: Attendance: WC Disc 6

QUESTION 1: Empire verses Republic

QUESTION 2: Religion in the Roman Empire

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