06. Transformation of the Roman Empire

The Early Middle Ages, 284--1000 (HIST 210)

The Roman Empire in the West collapsed as a political entity in the fifth century although the Eastern part survived the crisis.. Professor Freedman considers this transformation through three main questions: Why did the West fall apart -- because of the external pressure of invasions or the internal problems of institutional decline? Who were these invading barbarians? Finally, does this transformation mark a gradual shift or is it right to regard it as a cataclysmic end of civilization? Professor Freedman, as a moderate catastrophist, argues that this period marked the end of a particular civilization rather than the end of civilization in general.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
05:43 - Chapter 2. Catastrophe
18:43 - Chapter 3. The Roman Army and the Visigoths
28:25 - Chapter 4. Another Kind of Barbarian: The Huns
34:19 - Chapter 5. Accomodation
38:55 - Chapter 6. Decline

Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu


This course was recorded in Fall 2011.