1. 1/10 (blocks 3,5,7) & 1/13 (block 2) Journal: What are 3 contributions of the Roman Empire to Western Civilization? Agenda: 1)Journal & check study guide 2)Fall of Rome 3)Timeline Activity

2. The Decline, Division and Fall of the Roman Empire

3. After the period of Pax Romana (27 BC to 180 AD), the Roman Empire was plagued by many problems…

4. 1) Political problems There was no established method for how an emperor should replace another. This leads to many years of civil wars and weak leaders.

6. Between 235 and 285 AD no fewer than 20 to 25 people claimed the throne. –They ruled for about 2-3 years on average. –All but two were murdered or died in battle.

7. The emperors who survived were typically corrupt and spent money on themselves.

8. 2. Problems with Government People no longer view emperors as gods. – Corruption of the leaders causes the people to lose faith in Rome. >

10. 2)Problems With Government Wealthy landowners and provincial governors formed their own armies and frequently ignored orders from Rome.

11. 3) Geographic size At its peak, the Roman Empire covered 2.2 million square miles, spanning three continents. –35 modern countries have land that was once controlled by Rome. The huge size of the empire made it difficult to defend and administer. –Ex. Hundreds of miles of roads and aqueducts, forts, ports, etc.

14. Not all citizens or members of empire were loyal to Rome

15. 4) Military changes Non-citizens and mercenaries joined the army. – They were not as well- trained or as loyal to Rome, which reduced the quality of the army.

16. The military was also increasingly involved in politics. –Men joined the army to one day gain political power.

17. 5) Economic problems The empire’s wealth had been obtained from trade, foreign conquests and farming.

18. Economic Problems Trade was increasingly disrupted by pirates, barbarian tribes and other foreign enemies. Farmland was overused which caused a drop in production.

19. Also, the dependence on cheap slave labor discouraged advances in farming technology. –Why make farming more efficient when you can just capture more slaves?

20. The cost of maintaining the army and protecting the borders was a huge tax burden. =

21. Economic Problems In an effort to help pay for wars, the Roman government began to put less silver in their coins, making the coins less valuable –The devaluing (lessening of value) of money is called inflation

22. Diocletian In 284 AD, emperor Diocletian came to power helped restore some temporary stability to the empire.

23. Diocletian increased the size of the army, set fixed prices for products to limit inflation and required that farmers stay on their land. Diocletian divided the empire into two parts so it was easier to control. –The western, Latin-speaking portion and the eastern, Greek-speaking portion.

25. Diocletian took over the wealthier eastern empire and appointed a co-emperor to rule the west. –Each emperor had an assistant emperor, which was supposed to simplify succession.

26. When Diocletian died in 313 AD, a civil war broke out and many of his reforms were abandoned.

27. Constantine Emperor Constantine (ruled 306-337 AD), reunified the empire but moved the capital to Byzantium (a Greek colony in Anatolia). –Constantine renamed Byzantium Constantinople. By the time of Constantine, the city of Rome was a shell of its former self. –The population had dropped, trade was reduced and its culture was in a state of decline.

31. Germanic Invasions Starting around 370 AD, large numbers of Germanic tribes began to cross the Rhine and Danube Rivers and invade the empire.

32. Germanic Invasions The borders were too long and the army too weak and corrupt to put up effective resistance. Many of these Germanic tribes were fleeing attacks from the Huns (a nomadic group from central Asia) who were invading their land.

35. In 455 AD, the Vandals sacked Rome. –Vandal – “One who willfully or maliciously defaces or destroys public or private property”

36. In 476 AD, the last Roman was kicked out of power by a German general Western Roman Empire is finished

37. The Eastern Roman Empire lived on for another 1,000 years, but it was known as the Byzantine Empire.