additional notes in this section > [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ]

ancient rome

Roman conquest of Greece
scholars + libraries move to Rome
influx of literature, art + religion

engineering ( bathing, plumbing, aqueducts, central heating, sanitation )

parchment  common use  made from animal skins  allowed for codex  (folded format)  supplanted scroll for ease of use  Christians identified with codex (pagans/historic use of scrolls)

3 2 5 ad  Christianity adopted as religion of Rome  Emperor Constantine  moved capital from Rome to Byzantium (Constantinople)  weakened Roman control over empire  Rome attacked by Huns + Visigoths

3 9 5 ad  Roman Empire 1/2d  Constantinople and Ravenna  4 1 0 sacked by Visigoths  4 7 6 Ravena fell to Barbarians  dissolved Roman Empire  Byzantium thrived in the east