When did the fall of the Roman Empire begin?

The Roman Empire was one of the greatest that existed. But by the end of the 4th century A D, the Romans began to experience practical difficulties in managing the large empire. Gradually the empire began to disintegrate, falling prey to attacks from tribes such as the Goths, Visigoths, the Vandals and the Franks from Northern Europe.


Early in the 4th century Emperor Constantine concluded that Rome was not safe, and shifted his capital to the city of Byzantium (modern Istanbul), renaming it Constantinople. After his death, his sons squabbled over the empire, resulting in a division into the Eastern Roman Empire based on Constantinople and w Western Roman Empire based in Rome. The Western Roman Empire crumbled under its own weight and was victim to a series of conquests from Alaric, king of the Visigoths in 410 AD and Attila the Hun in 433 AD. When the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus ascended the throne in 475 AD, he had only a mere shadow of what was once the glorious Roman Empire. When he was taken prisoner by German King Odovacar in 476 AD, the curtains came down on the empire begun by Caesar Augustus, nearly 500 years ago.

When was the burning of Rome started?

When was the burning of Rome started?

The burning of Rome took place in the year 64 AD. This happened during the reign of Nero (37-67 AD) who was a tyrant, weak and completely mad. It is possible that the great fire that burned and destroyed Rome was started under his orders. Even if he had not, Nero is supposed to have stood watching the destruction, while playing the fiddle. The fire raged for six days continuously and at the end of it only less than one third of the city remained. Seizing this opportunity, Nero ordered the building of a new city which turned out to be more beautiful and magnificent than the earlier one. However, he did not live long to enjoy it, as he committed suicide during a revolt that followed.

Who was Julius Caesar?

Who was Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar was the son of a noble family who entered the Roman Army. He served with distinction, earning the Civic Crown, the highest medal of valour. Upon his return to Rome, he entered politics and became a Consul. He led a successful military expedition to expand the Empire. He pushed the frontiers of the Roman Empire farther than any Roman emperor. He took command of an Army and the next two years, he invaded and laid claim to most of Britain, and crossed the Rhine to fight the Germans.


He returned to Rome as a powerful hero, and came into political conflict with Pompey, another Roman General who held the post of Chief Consul. By law, generals were not allowed to bring their armies into the city of Rome but rather were required to keep them north of the Rubicon River. In 50 BC, Caesar flouted the law, crossed the Rubicon and entered Rome to stage a coup. He deposed Pompey and eliminated the Republic making himself an absolute ruler, in 48 BC. He continued to rule until disgruntled colleagues assassinated him on March 15, 44 BC. By the time of his death, Rome had also become Europe’s –and possibly the world’s-first superpower.

How did the Romans come to super power?

How did the Romans come to super power?

While Rome was founded in 753 BC, it took more than 500 years before the Romans rose to their supremacy. Then they asserted power and influence beyond the Italian peninsula. However, during these 500 years, Rome, the city of the river Tiber, had become a dominant political force in Italy. As it sphere of influence spread outside Italy, Rome would face new and more serious competition than it had, closer to home.


While Greece looked East towards the cradle of civilization and the Persian Empire beyond, the Romans looked West. The major power in the Western Mediterranean was Carthage, a city founded in 814 BC by the Phoenicians. As Rome began to broaden its power it put itself on a collision course with Carthage. The victor in this power struggle would win dominance over the Western Europe, and ultimately, the entire Mediterranean area. This was finally decided over three epic wars known as the Punic wars. It was the Roman victory over the Carthaginian general Hannibal at the battle of Zama in 202 BC, which marked the beginning of the rise of power of the Roman Empire.

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

The Great Wall of China built at the command of Emperor Shih Huang Ti, is the greatest example of human effort. Known in China as Wan-Lichang Chen, it was built to form the northern boundary of the Chinese empire. It was about 2400 kms (6400 Kms with all its branches) long, and was four and a half to 12 metres in height. To build it over high mountains and very difficult terrain, the emperor pressed every third man in the kingdom into service. But compared to the amount of human suffering it involved, it was a futile effort.

Who is known as the First Emperor? Why?

Who is known as the First Emperor? Why?

China, in the very early days, was made up of many warring feudal states. By about 221 BC, this period ended with the rise of Chin Dynasty. During this time, the powerful Shi Huang Di, known as the First Emperor, succeeded in uniting China for the first time in history. Although, he is remembered as a despot, Shi Huang Di brought about several reforms that changed the face of China. He introduced a centralized government, conducted a census and standardized the weights and measures and coinage of the country. He is also credited with having begun work on the Great Wall of China. Shi Huang Di’s rule ended with the advent of the Han Dynasty

What is the Archimedes’ principle?

Archimedes was a Greek scientist who studied at the Museum of Alexandria. He had done a lot of research in geometry, hydrostatics and mechanics. His studies and theories were pathbreaking ones because they laid the base for great discoveries for scientists of the future. In fact, they proved to be of great help to Galileo, Newton and others, who made revolutionary discoveries.


Archimedes is renowned for his principle which says that the weight of a solid is equal to the weight of water displaced by it, when immersed in water.


Eureka!


There is an interesting story about how Archimedes discovered his famous principle. It is said that the King of Syracuse in Greece suspected that a jeweler had cheated him. The King asked Archimedes if he could determine if the object was made of pure gold. Archimedes went over the problem in his mind and the answer came suddenly to him one day, while he was in his bath. Excited by his discovery, he is said to have run home without putting on his clothes, shouting ‘Eureka!’ (I have found it!)

Why is the monarchy of Asoka considered enlightened?

Why is the monarchy of Asoka considered enlightened?

In ancient times, kings mostly ruled with an iron hand and were considered omnipotent. They were wee thought to be representatives of Gods, and ruled by divine decree. Yet some kings stand out for their benevolence. One such is Emperor Asoka who ruled Magadha in India from 273 BC to 232 BC. His empire includes almost all of India and what is Bangladesh and Pakistan today.


In 261 BC, he fought the Battle of Kalinga, which was to become a turning point in his life. This bloody war left more than 200000 casualties in its wake. Asoka was shocked and greatly saddened by this sight and decided that victory in war was not worth the price to be paid in terms of human misery. He renounced military conquest as a national policy, and converted to Buddhism. Animal and human sacrifices were banned. Missionaries were sent to all parts of his vast empire, and also to foreign lands to spread the message of non-violence and Buddhism. Sri Lanka was one such country that accepted this re religion as a result of Asoka’s efforts.


Emperor Asoka was also an able ruler, expanding trade, undertaking public works, encouraging arts and establishing institutions that worked for the welfare of his people. From an aggressive ruler, Asoka had become a man with a conscience, and thus, is considered the world’s first truly ‘enlightened’ monarch.

Why is Alexander considered great?

Why is Alexander considered great?

In the 4th century BC, Alexander a Greek general, established an empire that included both Europe and Asia, and stretched from Greece to India. he is popularly known as Alexander the Great, who lived from 356 to 323 BC.


Alexander was the son of Philip of Macedonia, who had brought the whole of Greece under his rule. Succeeding his father at the young age 20, Alexander his short rule of 13 years, was able to build the greatest empire that existed at that time. He defeated Darius II twice to conquer Persia and Mesopotamia. He captured Tyre after a siege of seven months, before invading and capturing Egypt. He pushed on till he reached northern India. Satisfied at last at having conquered the world, he led his warriors home. But he died in Babylon, stricken with fever at the young age of 33.


Apart from the fact that Alexander had established one of the largest empires of all times, the true importance and its greatness lies in yet another aspect. For the first time, there could be a free exchange of ideas between two different cultures. Unlike other conquerors, Alexander was open to the ideas of his conquered people, and freely absorbed them.

Who was Hippocrates?

Who was Hippocrates?

Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was a great physician who lived during the Golden Age of Greece. Modern medicine can trace its root to his ideas.


Living at a time when diseases were treated by which doctors and magicians, Hippocrates was like a doctor of the 20th century. He said while curing the sick, a doctor should ‘consider the nature of humans in general, and of each individual and the characteristics of each disease’. In short his view was that the doctor should look into the whole human mechanism rather than focus on the symptom of a disease. He recommended that ‘exercise strengthens and inactivity wastes’.


Hippocrates did not make many discoveries, and his theory of blood circulation was wrong. But what he did was to formulate the theoretical base and the procedures by which medical science was to develop in the future. In fact, he laid down the framework of modern medical practice.

Hippocrates Oath

The Hippocrates Oath, written by Hippocrates, way back in the 4th century BC, is still respected and recited by doctors the world over. It is the foundation of the modern medical ethics. The tenets contained in it relate to a doctor’s duty to treat anyone, regardless of his social status.