1. Decline of the Western Roman Empire Causes and Effects

2. From Peace to Decline Pax Romana – Augustus and the Five Good Emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) 1. Consolidated Frontiers 2. Trade and agriculture flourished 3. Public building. Although things did seem to be getting better, there were problems on the horizon.  Barbarian pressures were mounting.

3. Decline  The death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 led to a 300-year period of steady decline because of internal and external problems.  No good leader could be found to fill the Roman office of emperor. Between 211 and 300, there were more than seventy emperors fighting for control of the Imperial office. Between 211 and 300, there were more than seventy emperors fighting for control of the Imperial office.  Meanwhile, the frontiers disintegrated, the barbarian tribes began to move into the territory of the Empire itself. The Pax Romana was clearly at an end. The Pax Romana was clearly at an end.

4. Causes of the decline of the Western Roman Empire 1. Economy- The cost of defense and devaluation of Roman currency. 2. Military- Army membership starting to include invaders, resulting in decline of discipline.

5. Decline continued 3. Moral decay - People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family. 4. Political problems - Civil conflict and weak administration. 5. Invasion - Attack on borders  Huns, Visigoths, Ostragoths, Franks, Saxons, and Vandals.

7. Division of the Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian split the Roman Empire into 2 parts for better control. Later, emperor Constantine moved the capital from the city of Rome to Byzantium (Asia Minor). He renamed the new capital Constantinople after himself – today it is the city of Istanbul.

9. Division of the Roman Empire

10. Division Western Roman Empire survived until 476 A.D., when it ceased to have a Roman Emperor. Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) persisted until the 15 th century.