Question

1. why might a roman historian like ammianus use to describe the huns? savagery, animals, etc. justify actions or show difference. 4. how does this excerpt/document help explain the decline of the roman empire? force, weakening rome. source: an excerpt of a historical text written by prius, a conversation he had w/a former roman ambassador to the huns. he considered his new life... better than his old life among the condition of roman subjects in time of peace is worse than on others... a wealthy lawbreaker... is not punished for his injustice... the climax of misery is to have to pay in order to obtain justice... he deplored that the governors, not possessing the spirit of former times, were... document analysis 1. who was prius? do you think his description is reliable? 2. why were some romans happy about being conquered by the huns? 3. what does it mean when they say the climax of misery is to have to pay for justice? 4. how can you use this document to help you explain what caused the internal problems of rome? source: edward gibbon, the history of the decline and fall of the roman empire note: it took the author 12 years to write this six - volume work. in the second year of the reign of valens 366 ce... the roman world was shaken. the shores of the mediterranean were left dry by the sudden retreat to the sea - coast of sicily... grace, and of egypt... 50,000 persons had lost their lives in the calamity... astonished and terrified the subjects of rome... and their fearful visions were the symptoms of declining empire and a sinking world... 1. what natural disaster struck the roman empire in 366 ce?

Explanation:

1. Prius was a former Roman ambassador to the Huns. His description may be somewhat reliable as he had first - hand experience, but could also be biased by his own perspective and the political climate of the time.
2. Some Romans were happy about being conquered by the Huns because the condition of Roman subjects in peacetime was poor, with issues like unfair justice (wealthy lawbreakers not being punished while the poor had to pay for justice) and bad governance.
3. Saying the climax of misery is having to pay to obtain justice implies a corrupt justice system where access to justice is not equal and is instead a commodity for the wealthy, while the poor are left at a disadvantage.
4. This document can be used to show internal problems in Rome such as a corrupt justice system, bad governance, and heavy tax - burdens, which could have contributed to its decline. For the last question, the natural disaster that struck the Roman Empire in 366 CE was a sudden retreat of the sea (a possible tsunami - related event) that led to loss of life in Sicily and Egypt.

Answer:

1. Prius was a former Roman ambassador to the Huns. His description may have some reliability but also potential bias.
2. Due to unfair justice, bad governance, and heavy tax - burdens in Roman peacetime.
3. It implies a corrupt justice system where justice is a commodity for the wealthy and inaccessible to the poor.
4. By highlighting internal problems like a corrupt justice system and bad governance.

For the natural disaster question: A sudden retreat of the sea (possibly related to a tsunami) that caused loss of life in Sicily and Egypt.