Historical Perspectives on the Fall of the Roman Empire and Governance in the Early Middle Ages Essay

Assignment Question

 1. What is Adrian Goldsworthy’s argument? What is Peter Heather’s argument? Which argument did you find most persuasive? Why? (your answer must be based on the authors’ arguments, not their writing style or word choice) 2. What similarities and differences do you see in the relationship between religion and government in the Early Middle Ages under Justinian, Omar, and Charlemagne? What differences do you see? 3. According to John of Salisbury, what are the guiding principles that all rulers (princes) should use when managing their government? 4. Review your notes on Herodotus and different forms of government (module 1, lecture 4). Both Herodotus and Thomas Aquinas consider different forms of government and make arguments for which are best and which is worst. On what points would Herodotus and Thomas Aquinas agree? On what points would they disagree?