Historical map depicting the division of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Byzantine Empire, highlighting key events and territorial shifts from 400 to 600 CE.

Let's solve the worksheet titled "The Byzantine Empire and the Division of Christianity" step by step, using historical knowledge and clues from the map provided.

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I. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

#### A. After the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire entered an era of ________
> Answer: *Decline*
> (After the Pax Romana, peace and stability ended, leading to a gradual decline.)

1. Romans had a large trade deficit (they bought more than they produced)
> ✔ Correct term: *Trade deficit*
> Explanation: The empire imported more goods than it exported, leading to economic strain.

2. The Roman Empire had a series of short-lived emperors
> ✔ Correct term: *Short-lived emperors* or *civil wars and political instability*
> Explanation: After the Pax Romana, there were frequent power struggles and assassinations of emperors.

3. As Rome went deeper into debt, the Roman army became weak and began using foreign mercenary soldiers
> ✔ Correct term: *Roman army*
> Explanation: The military weakened due to financial issues and relied on mercenaries, who lacked loyalty.

4. Emperor Diocletian then tried to save the Roman Empire by dividing it to make it more manageable
> ✔ Correct term: *Dividing it* or *splitting it into two parts*
> Explanation: He split the empire into Eastern and Western halves in 285 CE to improve administration.

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#### B. The Western Roman Empire continued to grow weak

1. Emperor Constantine moved the Roman capital to Constantinople in the Eastern side of the Roman Empire
> ✔ Correct term: *Constantinople*
> Explanation: Founded in 330 CE, it became the new capital and center of the Eastern Empire.

2. By 476, Odoacer conquered the Western Roman Empire
> ✔ Correct term: *Odoacer*
> Explanation: A Germanic chieftain who deposed the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, marking the fall of the Western Empire.

3. The Western Roman Empire fell into the Middle Ages (or “Dark Ages”) from 500 to 1300 CE
> ✔ Correct term: *Middle Ages*
> Explanation: This period followed the collapse of the Western Empire and is often called the "Dark Ages" due to reduced literacy and political fragmentation.

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II. THE RISE OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

#### A. While the Western Roman Empire was in decline… the Eastern Roman Empire remained strong

> ✔ Fill-in:
> - First blank: Western
> - Second blank: decline
> - Third blank: Eastern
> - Fourth blank: strong

1. The Eastern Roman Empire later became known as the Byzantine Empire
> ✔ Correct term: *Byzantine Empire*
> Explanation: Named after the ancient city of Byzantium, which became Constantinople.

2. Constantinople was a crossroads for trade and business between Europe, Asia, and Africa because of its location; this trade made the Byzantine Empire very wealthy
> ✔ Fill-ins: *Trade*, *wealthy*
> Explanation: Its strategic position allowed control over major trade routes, especially between the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

3. Its location on the water (connecting the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea) made it more defensible from outside invaders than most cities
> ✔ Correct term: *Defensible*
> Explanation: Surrounded by water on three sides, Constantinople was hard to attack and had strong natural defenses.

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✔ Final Completed Worksheet:

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I. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

A. After the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire entered an era of decline
1. Romans had a large trade deficit
2. The Roman Empire had a series of short-lived emperors
3. As Rome went deeper into debt, the Roman army became weak and began using foreign mercenary soldiers
4. Emperor Diocletian then tried to save the Roman Empire by dividing it to make it more manageable

B. The Western Roman Empire continued to grow weak
1. Emperor Constantine moved the Roman capital to Constantinople
2. By 476, Odoacer conquered the Western Roman Empire
3. The Western Roman Empire fell into the Middle Ages (or “Dark Ages”) from 500 to 1300 CE

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II. THE RISE OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

A. While the Western Roman Empire was in decline, the Eastern Roman Empire remained strong
1. The Eastern Roman Empire later became known as the Byzantine Empire
2. Constantinople was a crossroads for trade and business between Europe, Asia, and Africa because of its location; this trade made the Byzantine Empire very wealthy
3. Its location on the water (connecting the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea) made it more defensible from outside invaders than most cities

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📌 Summary:

- The Western Roman Empire collapsed due to economic problems, invasions, and internal weakness.
- The Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, survived and evolved into the Byzantine Empire, which thrived due to its strategic location and wealth from trade.
- The Byzantine Empire played a key role in preserving Roman culture, law, and Christian traditions during the Middle Ages.

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