Classical Civilizations From Year 100-600

Thesis:  From 100 C.E. to 600 C.E., during the end of the foundations time period, the political and cultural aspects of society in Rome changed, but also had some continuity.  Some change that was made was the type of governmental rule in Roman civilization.  There is also continuity found in the status of women and language.

From 100C.E. to 600 C.E ancient Rome underwent many changes, some being political, others being cultural. A lot changed politically from then 100 to 600. Rome had a series of Punic wars with Carthage and the second one was possibly the one that had the most impact. After this war, Rome became the undisputed power in the Mediterranean. Also, in the year 100 Rome was strictly and Empire. They spread over Italy to Eastern Europe and even northern Africa. Their greatness created a golden age in Rome referred to as pax romana. After this golden age ended, Rome began a decline that led to the destruction of the Empire and it then turned into a Republic. There were also cultural changes in Roman civilization during 100 to 600. One major cultural change was religious. In the earlier days of the Roman Empire, the major religion of the people was paganism. This was polytheistic, much like the Greeks, and dealt with the Roman people making sacrifices of food, animals and other goods to the gods they believed in. This religion was changed and the major religion of the Romans became Catholicism. It was eventually made the legal religion by Emperor Constantine. While there were drastic political and cultural changes in Rome from the 100 to 600, there were also some points of continuity.

Something that was continuous in Rome was the political standing of women. It was illegal for women to own property. They also could not be of any political importance. More political continuity is represented in the type of ruler that was in power. It was almost always a near absolute ruler with the examples of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, and Constantine. Another way continuity was represented was in the cultural aspects of Roman civilization. Paterfamilias remained dominant throughout 100 to 600 because women were treated without much respect at home. The eldest male of a household was much more respected. More cultural continuity is in language. The people in the West dominantly spoke Latin, while Greek was the dominant language of the East. This shows major continuity because language is one of the most important foundations of a society.