Summary of Lars Brownworth's Lost to the West

Everest Media

Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 The Roman Empire was in decline by the third century, and the Roman people were becoming increasingly apathetic and enervated. The military, which had once been a source of strength for the empire, fell victim to the sickness of the age.
#2 The Roman Empire was beginning to fall apart. The economy was suffering, people were becoming scared, and the government was unable to respond to the many problems that were arising. Diocletian decided to split the empire in half, and gave most of the western areas to Maximian, while keeping the more cultured Greek east for himself.
#3 Diocletian was the first emperor to divide his power between two men. He also organized the empire into twelve dioceses, and taxes could be collected more efficiently. He then turned to the monumental task of stabilizing the crown itself.
#4 The Roman Empire had a long tradition of masking its autocracy behind the trappings of a republic. But Diocletian wanted to change that, and he did by creating an autocratic monarch, a divine emperor. He propped up the wobbly throne of Olympus with the might of Olympus, and this stroke of brilliance kept rebellion at bay.

Sujets

• Ancient
• Rome
• Ancient history
• Roma (serie de televisión)

Informations

• Publié par: Everest Media LLC
• Date de parution: 10 avril 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669382102
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Insights on Lars Brownworth's Lost to the West
Contents Insights from Chapter 1 Insights from Chapter 2 Insights from Chapter 3 Insights from Chapter 4 Insights from Chapter 5 Insights from Chapter 6 Insights from Chapter 7 Insights from Chapter 8 Insights from Chapter 9 Insights from Chapter 10 Insights from Chapter 11 Insights from Chapter 12 Insights from Chapter 13 Insights from Chapter 14 Insights from Chapter 15 Insights from Chapter 16 Insights from Chapter 17 Insights from Chapter 18 Insights from Chapter 19 Insights from Chapter 20 Insights from Chapter 21 Insights from Chapter 22 Insights from Chapter 23 Insights from Chapter 24 Insights from Chapter 25
Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The Roman Empire was in decline by the third century, and the Roman people were becoming increasingly apathetic and enervated. The military, which had once been a source of strength for the empire, fell victim to the sickness of the age.

#2

The Roman Empire was beginning to fall apart. The economy was suffering, people were becoming scared, and the government was unable to respond to the many problems that were arising. Diocletian decided to split the empire in half, and gave most of the western areas to Maximian, while keeping the more cultured Greek east for himself.

#3

Diocletian was the first emperor to divide his power between two men. He also organized the empire into twelve dioceses, and taxes could be collected more efficiently. He then turned to the monumental task of stabilizing the crown itself.

#4

The Roman Empire had a long tradition of masking its autocracy behind the trappings of a republic. But Diocletian wanted to change that, and he did by creating an autocratic monarch, a divine emperor. He propped up the wobbly throne of Olympus with the might of Olympus, and this stroke of brilliance kept rebellion at bay.

#5

Christianity opposed the arbitrary injustice of the world around them, and offered hope that their suffering wasn’t in vain. They believed that the world was passing away, and that a better one was awaiting them in the afterlife.

#6

The Roman Empire never figured out a stable means of succession. It had traditionally passed the throne from father to son, but if the dynasty failed to produce an heir, the empire would convulse in a bloody struggle until the strongest contender prevailed.

#7

Diocletian renounced his power and settled down to plant cabbages at his palatial estate in Salonae, on the Adriatic coast. He had the misfortune to be eclipsed by the man who nineteen years later rose to power.

#8

When the early church was developing a hierarchy, it naturally absorbed the Roman Empire’s system of government. Thus Diocletian’s reforms are still visible in the Catholic Church, in which bishops oversee a diocese and the pope is referred to as the Vicar of Christ.
Insights from Chapter 2

#1

Constantine, the first emperor of the tetrarchy, was raised up on the shields of his army comrades as Augustus in 306, and plunged the Roman world into war. The island of Britain had not often intruded on the imperial consciousness, but Constantine’s elevation was a shout heard in the empire’s remotest corners.

#2

Constantine’s victory over Maxentius was a sign from God, and he created new banners, replacing the traditional pagan standards with ones displaying a cross. He was hailed by the Senate when he entered the Forum.

#3

Constantine’s victory over Maxentius was a turning point in Christian history. He had converted to Christianity, but he never really understood it. He saw it as a means to unify the empire, and he didn’t want to alienate his pagan subjects by forcing a new religion on them.

#4

Constantine became emperor after his victory at the Milvian Bridge. He had always been tolerant of Christianity, and now he began to promote it openly. He had unify the empire under his sole rule, and now Christianity would be unified under him as well.

#5

The Christian church was in shambles, and Constantine decided to save it by having a council. He invited every bishop in the empire to attend, personally covering the cost of transportation and housing. When several hundred clerics had arrived at the Asian city of Nicaea, the emperor packed them into the main cathedral and opened the proceedings with a plea for unity.

#6

Constantine’s victory over his enemies paved the way for him to become emperor of the Roman Empire. He then built a church on the Lateran Hill for the pope, and donated a palace on the same hill as a church for the emperor.

#7

Constantine was determined to give the empire new roots, and he chose Byzantium, a city halfway between the eastern and western frontiers, to be the capital of the world. He built Nova Roma - New Rome - on the site, and it became the center of Christendom.

#8

Constantine dedicated the city of Constantinople to God, and buried the most sacred items from both pagan and Christian history below the city’s great column. He preferred to hedge his bets spiritually.

#9

Constantine was adecisive emperor when it came to political matters, but when it came to the church, he was indecisive and often backed whichever side he thought was in the ascendancy. This led to an annoying habit of backing whichever side was in favor.

#10

Constantine was the first Christian emperor, and he had found an empire and a religion that were completely fractured and hopelessly divided.