Decline & Fall Chapter 5 – 5 200 C.E.

The Decline Following the end of the rule of emperor Marcus Aurelius , which marks the end of Pax Romana, the stability & prosperity Rome had enjoyed also came to an end. Beginning with Septimus Severous, the Roman Throne was held by anyone who had the military ability to seize it. As the Roman Empire succumbed to a number of civil wars new issues tested the might of the empire.

The Decline Issues Leading to Rome’s decline A plague in the 3rd Century C.E. caused the deaths of people which led to labor & production shortages. “Barbarians” were starting to make inroads into the Roman territories in both the Eastern & western halves of the Empire. The population decline also led to Germans being paid to be soldiers . With little to no respect for roman ways, these fighters simply took the money and eventually fled.

Reforms by Diocletian & Constantine Aware of the challenges facing the large Roman empire at the end of the 3rd century C.E. Diocletian set in motion a new way to try & control the Roman Empire . Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in to 4 units each with his own ruler. - The city of Rome established a new governmental structure, rigid economic & Social system & Christianity as the official religion of the state (only the part Diocletian controlled; It isn’t until Theodosius that the entire empire converts to Christianity)

Reforms by Diocletian & Constantine Constantine, who followed Diocletian continued the restructuring of the empire and created anew capital city in the East built on the former Greek city of Byzantium. Once complete the city will be named for Constantine, it will be called Constantinople. The new capital symbolized the “New Rome.” These new projects , while growing the army & civil service led to economic issues, which led to inflation. - One problem that led to these economic issues was the fact that money received from taxes dried up as a result of population decline.

The Fall The reforms of both Diocletian & Constantine helped Rome maintain its empire for another century. Now divided into 2 halves (Western , Rome capital, Eastern, Constantinople) outside threats now endangered the empire Germanic tribes, long on the fringes of the Roman Empire were now beginning to settle on Roman territory. This was easier than in years past due to Rome’s weakening military.

The Fall – Germanic Tribes Initially a conflict between 2 Germanic tribes, the Huns & Visigoths forced the Visigoths into settling in Roman territory and eventually allying with the Romans. Following a revolt by the Visigoths in which the Romans were defeated. Growing in umbers , the Visigoths eventually sacked , Rome & killed the Emperor of the western half, Romulus Augustus in 476 C.E. . Although the eastern Roman empire remained with its capital in Constantinople, Scholars refer to the sacking of Rome by the Visigoths as the end of the Western Roman Empire.

Theories on the fall of Rome Christianity’s emphasis on a spiritual kingdom weakened Rome’s military virtues . Traditional Roman values declined as non-Italians gained prominence. Plague killed 10% of population leading to inflation due to less taxes & food production.