A3.+Understanding+how+and+why+the+collapse+of+empire+was+more+severe+in+western+Europe+(Rome)+than+it+was+in+the+eastern+Mediterranean+(Byzantine)+or+in+China+(Han)


 * __The Byzantine Empire__**

__How it collapsed:__
 * When [|Emperor Basil II] died in 1025, the Byzantine Empire was the dominant economic, military, and political power in the Eastern Mediterranean
 * From then on, the empire steadily declined due to domestic issues and foreign pressure from both the east and west
 * Social problems included rebellious generals and aristocrats undermining the imperial government by amassing land and recruiting private armies
 * From the east, the Islamic armies under the [|Umayyad] and subsequent [|Abbasid] Caliphates constantly attacked Byzantium's eastern border
 * Additionally, the dynamic [|Seljuk Turks] inflicted a stunning defeat for the Byzantines at Manzikert, resulting in the devastating loss of Anatolia which functioned as the principal source of Byzantine grain, wealth, and military recruiting pool


 * Christian crusaders from Western Europe captured and sacked the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, during the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)
 * Although Byzantine forces recaptured the city in 1261, the empire never fully recovered from this invasion
 * Finally collapsed in 1453 when [|Ottoman Turks] captured Constantinople

__Why the collapse was less severe than in Western Europe:__ ex. the Ottomans grew wealthy controlling caravan routes transporting silk ex. Constantinople was renovated after its conquest and magnificent new buildings were constructed like the Suleiman Mosque ex. the Ottoman Empire effectively defended itself from the Safavids in the east and Austrians in the west ex. the Janissary corp were famous for employing the latest gunpowder weapons, however later on, this unit began to suppress advancement
 * Replaced by a stable and prosperous empire which was the Ottoman Empire, no massive power vacuum or loss of wealth and population
 * The Ottomans expanded and built upon Byzantine culture and art rather than allowing it to fall into ruin
 * The people of the Eastern Mediterranean under the Ottoman realm were well defended
 * No loss of technology or the momentum of technological advancement, at least in the early Ottoman Empire


 * __The Roman Empire__**

__How it collapsed__ · Series of generals seizing power and losing it shortly (235-284 CE) · [|Diocletian] (284-305 C.E.) split the Roman empire in to two halves- western and eastern: the western Roman empire and the eastern Roman empire o He brought back Rome’s economy but faced the dilemma in trying to protect the whole empire from outside threats. o Diocletian persecuted Christians within the Roman Empire. (284-305 CE) o [|Constantine] ruled after him · Eastern part of Roman empire: o Constantine ruled and moved the capital to Constantinople o Edict of Milan: Constantine’s doctrine making Christianity legal and openly practiced and put an end to the persecution o Constantine was a Christian · Western part of the Roman empire: o Under pressure from the Huns, Germanic peoples streamed into the Roman empire o Established settlements in Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain, and north Africa o Germanic general Odovacer deposed the Roman emperor, 476 C.E. o Imperial authority survived in the eastern half of the empire · Final separation and division of the Empire: o Conflicts between the pope in western Rome and the head of church in eastern Rome o New group taking over western Rome o Eastern Rome became the Byzantine empire and the Roman empire was lost

__Why the collapse of the Roman Empire was more severe than the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and the Han dynasty__ · Resulted in loss of knowledge Ex. the Romans built lots of domes, but since the fall, another dome wasn't built until the renaissance · Loss of strong central government Ex. Europe was unable to defend itself against Vikings and Magyars · Roman empire became an open space for powers to seize Ex. Huns under the Attila streamed into western Rome with Germanic people and founded settlements their


 * __The Han (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.)__

__How it Collapsed__ **  __Why it was less severe than the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and the Roman Empire__
 * Government corruption
 * Peasant rebellion ([|Taiping] /[|Yellow Turban revolution] )
 * Feudal system instead of centralized government
 *  Disease spread throughout


 * There was a form of government after the fall of the Han Dynasty, even though the country was in three parts that were constantly fighting each other
 * The economy of the Chinese was not a disaster
 * Lords did not separate from the country


 * Creators: Christopher Song, Sydney Hayes, and Liza Logan**


 * It could use one or two more visuals, but other than that I thought it was pretty good**.
 * Evaluators: Coco Abrantes, Joe Rodgers, and Allen Fromlath

I concur. Good information and no mistakes. Evaluators: Billy Ryan, Emily Weiss, Steven Lyons**