Student Notes: The Fall of Rome

EQ – Why did the Roman Empire decline and fall?

Marcus Aurelius “The Last Good Emperor” (AD 161-180) He was a philosopher, a writer, and very well liked. He protected the empire from invaders. Waste no more time talking about what a good man should be. Be one!

Emperor Commodus (AD 180-192) Commodus (son of Marcus Aurelius) was a terrible ruler He was very cruel and hated - in 192 AD, the Praetorian Guard (his own body guards) killed him.

The Beginning of the End Between 192 and 284 AD, Rome had 37 different Emperors. Most were murdered by the army.

One Reason for Rome’s Decline Political Corruption Weak and ineffective Emperors Emperors gained power by killing their opponents and bribing the army

Second Reason for Rome’s Decline Economic Problems Inflation – Prices increased and the value of Roman coins decreased People stopped using money and began to barter High taxes could not support the high wages of senators and the soldiers who were defending far away borders.

Two Major Reformers Diocletian 284-305 AD Fortified the frontier (far from Rome) to stop invasions

Two Major Reformers Diocletian 284-305 AD Divided the empire in two parts to improve organization—he ruled the Eastern half The last great persecution of Christians

Diocletian Splits the Empire in Two 294 AD

Two Major Reformers Constantine 312-337 AD Moved the capital to Constantinople (in modern Turkey) abandoning Rome Adopted Christianity as the official Religion in 313. This ended the brutal executions of Christians

After Constantine Despite moving the capital from Rome, the Empire in the West continues to crumble. Continuing problems worsened the situation in Rome Political Corruption—Killing their leaders, Bribing leaders, etc. Economic Instability—inflation, high taxes to pay soldiers, etc. Foreign Invaders—attacks by Germanic tribes, Visigoths, the Huns, etc.

Third Reason for Rome’s Decline Foreign Invasions Germanic Tribes (Barbarians) were pushed out of their homelands by the Huns These tribes crossed the borders of the Roman Empire and attacked

Alaric Leader of the Visigoths (German Barbarians) Once was a loyal soldier for Rome United the Visigoths and invaded and sacked Rome in the year 410 AD

Hun Migration pressures Germanic Tribes to move

Final Notes on Foreign Invasions Attila the Hun and his people’s migrations pushed German Goths out of their homeland east of the Danube River.

Final Notes on Foreign Invasions Goths began to defeat weakened Roman Legions using blitzing cavalry raids and metal stirrups.

Final Notes on Foreign Invasions The Visigoths attacked and sacked Rome in AD 410 under the Chieftain Alaric.