1. The Empire Crumbles The Roman Empire may have declined because there were many weak and corrupt emperors after Commodus, the army was filled with mercenaries, or because the Roman economy had weakened. To halt the decline, the emperor Diocletian divided the empire in two. 1 of 3 The Fate of Ancient Rome Section 3: The Fall of Rome MapMaster: Invasions of the Roman Empire to A.D. 476 From Good Rule to Bad The decline of the Roman Empire began with Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius. He contributed to the destruction of senatorial power. He made a spectacle of himself. He was assassinated on the last night of the year 192.

2. The Romans Accept Christianity When Constantine won power in the Western Roman Empire, he allowed freedom of worship. He worked to strengthen the Christian church and unite Eastern and Western factions. He moved the capital to Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople. 2 of 3 The Fate of Ancient Rome Section 3: The Fall of Rome The Defeat of Rome After Constantine’s death, Germanic tribes conquered and divided the Western Roman Empire. Section Reading Support Transparency Examview QuickTake Presenter Chapter Test

3. The Fate of Ancient Rome: Section 3 Section Reading Support Transparency 3 of 3