Politics Change & Continuity

By:John Filtes Jaeyung Lee Patrick Yoo

Jonathon Toro Anthony Cundari

The FLAMING Wildebeests

Rome’s government changes from a

monarchy to a republic

Rome’s government again changes from a republic into

to an empire

C.E.B.C.E.

China’s several warring states became unified under Qin Shi Huang

Byzantium’s caesaropapism fell at the Battle of Manzikert and Muslim Ottoman Turks became the rulers.

Changes and Continuity in Politics

Rome 753 BCE – Romulus & Remus create Rome. Romulus kills

Remus so he could be the king of Rome. Monarchy arises. 510 BCE – Tarquin the Proud is deposed as king. A political

system based around a constitution that called for a separation of powers. This system would be known as a republic.

49 - 44 BCE – Caesar comes to power in Rome and names himself dictator. Changes he made included centralizing political functions. In 44 BCE, Caesar was assassinated in an attempt to hopefully bring back the republic.

27 BCE – Augustus would become emperor in Rome’s “republic”. Augustus would have control over all important governmental functions.

China 403 – 221 BCE – The Warring States Period. Regional states

fought with one another. In 221 BCE, the Qin dynasty would be formed and centralized Chinese rule would be created.

202 BCE – Confucianism is the main religion of China. Those who are learning its philosophy usually were a part of China’s government.

220 – 580 AD – China would become separated after the Han dynasty’s downfall but become joined once again during the Sui dynasty.

1167 – 1227 AD – The Mongols would create their own empire under Genghis Khan starting from central China’s steppes. Genghis' policies were similar to those of nomadic tribes’ politics.

Byzantine 5th Century AD – As the western Roman Empire collapsed, the

Eastern part remained with the authority and imperial institutions it inherited from the Romans.

527 – 565 AD – The reign of Justinian in the Byzantine empire included Justinian’s Code, which reviewed Roman laws so that they could be used in the Byzantine empire.

7th century AD – Sections of the Byzantine empire fell under Islamic rule because of invasions from the Sassanid empire. Military technology would repel the Arabs from taking the empire.

1021 AD – The Seljuk Turks would win the battle of Manzikert and take control of the Byzantine empire. The Sultanate of Rum would control the Byzantine empire. It’s political system had clans ruling their own people but during times of war, nobles would be given absolute power. Under this Christian rule, caesaropapism both the Christian Emperor and the pope no longer had power over Byzantium, and the sultans gained this power.

Changes Rome – Although there culture and religion remained

throughout time, Rome’s government system had significant changes. It would change from a monarchy, to a republic, and then an empire due to gaining more power and size.

China – China’s changes occurred with its states and government policies. China would have unified states and some policies during some dynasties and neither during another because of the events that occurred.

Byzantine – Byzantine’s neighbors the Turks attacked and brought their Muslim rule with them.

Continuity Rome – Ever since the creation of the republic, the

characteristics of it would still be used in Rome’s government although changes would be made to some laws.

China – China was ruled by dynasties for a very long period of time. This would still remain throughout the Foundations period (8,000 BCE – 1450 AD)

Byzantine – Christianity which they adapted from Rome still continued and influenced its politics and caesaropapism.

Reasons for Changes

Rome: Their neighbors the Greeks had a similar system which Rome adopted and changed into a republic.

China: Unification would give China great power in Eastern Asia

Byzantine: Their neighbors, the Seljuk Turks invaded and proclaimed themselves rulers.

Thesis

Politics of different nations are always changing. New systems of government come up due to different reasons. For example, Rome’s monarchy changed into a republic in 510 B.C.E. due to the influence of their neighbors the Greeks who had a similar system of government. Byzantium’s neighbors did not just influence it, they invaded and proclaimed themselves rulers. This totally changed Byzantium’s Christian rule. These changes sometimes stayed and continued for a very long time. For example, When Qin unified China and made it one nation, China became a very prominent nation in Asia and it stayed that way for a very long time. Significant changes in politics do happen and they can either last for a very long time or a very short time.

The End