Rome Change Over Time

In the Mediterranean region from200 CE to 1000 CE, many cultures were affected by political transformation which either changed their society or helped it to remain the same, one being that of Rome. The Roman Empire over time continued their original laws, usage of humans for entertainment, and status of women. However, over the course of time Rome changed its religion which was mainly polytheistic to monotheistic, privileges of different sections of society, and its division of the Empire. Rome's society kept many of its aspects to continue the rule of their empire. Greco-Roman laws and beliefs stayed constant due to the emperors in the Byzantine Empire, which is believed to be a continuation of the Roman Empire. The initial beliefs integrated from the Grecian democracy stayed the same in their newly forming culture as it had for hundreds of years before. Rome also continued to have a divide between the wealthy and ordinary citizens. Poverty began to strike normal class citizens as the wealthy kept prospering. Roman emperors used gladiator games as a means to entertain and get money from ordinary citizens. This proved to be fatal to some but gave citizens food to keep them happy. The role of women was also continuous throughout the empire. Women who were citizens were treated with much more respect than those who were not but still didn't have the same social status as the man. They couldn't hold public office or be in the government. Rome's culture changed drastically from 200 CE to 1000 CE. Rome initially changed from polytheistic religions to the belief in Christianity. In 313, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which allowed Christianity but still was not the official religion. Christianity grew due to St. Augustine's writings which appealed to educated classes and it became their official religion in 392. This also then caused the division of the empire. The Byzantine kept Christianity as their main religion, mainly because it appealed to lower class citizens and was very lenient. Their division was in the midst of the Pax Romana, however there was internal and external issues which caused the empires to split. They spread so widely and vastly and couldn't maintain their vast nation. Invasions came from Germanic tribes on either side of the nation, so even the army had to be split up. Roman citizens were separated from the non-citizens. Citizens had to born in the city of Rome to people who were also born in Rome. Citizens did not have to pay taxes, but non-citizens did. During the Republic, only citizens could take part in politics and consuls had to be a citizen. This division began to change due to wealth in the second century AD. People could participate in political affairs if they were wealthy and climbed up the scale through military. Because of their wealth, even non-citizens could take the place of the Emperor. From 200 to 1000 CE many cultures such as the Roman remained constant in laws, rights of women, and human entertainment. However, this culture was modified in its polytheistic religion, the division of the empire, and the separation of wealthy and non-wealthy citizens. These political transformations lead to the coming of separate empires as well as new status based on wealth. Rome as well as other civilizations in this time period in the Mediterranean continued to grow and change to form their nation.