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- Rome's influence on subsequent Western civilization has been enormous - The legacy of Rome includes
Middle Ages- 400's - 1300's CE. - in the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine the beginnings of Medieval Civilization are apparent - The Pax Romana simply ceased to function in the West. Christianity- Christianity organized in parallel with state political structure (dioceses, vicars) - after fall of West, Christianity continued to flourish: Germans converted - two centers: Rome and Constantinople; split in Christianity reflects split in empire Survival of Roman Literature & Culture- churches & monasteries were roughly equivalent to modern research institutes. - monasteries contained libraries; trained monks made hand copies of Latin/Gk literature
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