Answer the following about modern historiographical debates about the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. For 10 points each:
[10e] Edward Gibbon largely attributed the fall to barbarian invasions and the ascendancy of this religion after Constantine’s edict of benevolence issued at Milan.
ANSWER: Christianity [accept Nicene Christianity; accept Catholicism]
[10h] This Belgian historian argued for a gradual replacement of Roman traditions in his namesake thesis. This author of Mohammad and Charlemagne regarded the Frankish Kingdom as the final extension of the empire.
ANSWER: Henri Pirenne [accept Pirenne Thesis]
[10m] Peter Heather proposed that the rapid rise of this superpower in the 220s severely shocked Rome’s frontier defense. This empire captured Valerian in 260, a century before emperor Julian besieged its capital at Ctesiphon (“TESS-uh-fon”).
ANSWER: Sassanian Empire [or Sassanid Empire; accept Neo-Persian Empire; accept Ērānšahr; prompt on Persian Empire or Persia]
<Other History>