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Published byOscar Conley Modified over 8 years ago
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After ruling the area of the Mediterranean for hundreds of years Roman Empire faced threats from in and outside the Empire With the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180, the golden age of the Pax Romana ended In the following years there was much turmoil and economic and political hardships
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During the 3rd century a violent disruptive political pattern emerged Hostile tribes and pirates on the Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade To pay for debts and expenses the empire for the empire the government raised taxes Began to mint coins that contained less silver in order to create more money = inflation Inflation - drop in the value of money coupled with the rise of prices
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Farmland was overworked and lost its productivity Cheap slave labor decreased the need for newer technologies Serious food shortages Disease eventually spread and population decreased
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For centuries, Germanic tribes attacked Rome Persians also posed a threat to Roman territory in Syria and Anatolia Within the army discipline and loyalty collapsed To defend against the increasing threat to empire the government recruited mercenaries Mercenaries - foreign soldier who fought for money
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Citizens began to lose their feeling of patriotism for the empire At one time holding political office was an honor By 200 AD local officials lost money because they had to pay for public evens and baths with their own money As a result few people choose to participate in government
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In 284 AD a strong army leader, Diocletian became the new emperor Restored order and increased strength Governed as an absolute ruler and limited personal freedoms Doubled the size of Roman armies, drafted prisoners of war and hired mercenaries Set fixed prices for goods to control inflation Claimed he was a descendent from ancient Roman gods Viewed Christianity as a threat
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Believed empire became too big and complex, divided into two East- Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt West- Italy, Gaul, Britannia, Spain Took the eastern half for himself and appointed co- ruler General Maximian the Western half Eastern half was more wealthy Each also chose a successor Diocletian’s eastern half contained most of the great cities and trading centers
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Reforms slowed the decline of the empire with border becoming safe once again Retired in AD 305 Succession failed and civil war broke out By 311 four rivals were competing for power
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Constantine was an ambitious commander Gained control of the western part of the empire in AD 312 Continued many of the economic and political policies of Diocletian Granted tolerance to Christians
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By 324 he gained control of the eastern half of the empire In AD 300 he moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium (modern day Turkey) New capital laid along the Bosporus, good for trade and defense purposes Power shifted from Rome to the east New capital was called Constantinople After Constantine’s death the empire would be divided with survival of the east and the fall of the west
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West’s collapse was a result of internal conflict, division from the East, outside invaders Germanic peoples lived along the Northern borders of the empire Some adopted Roman ways and lived peacefully Huge numbers of Germanic tribes began to move into the Roman Empire including the Visigoths, Angles and Saxons Overtime they would overwhelm Roman society
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Main reason for the Germanic invasion was because of the Huns Fierce Mongolian nomads from central Asia As they moved in Rome they destroyed everything in their path pushed other invaders into Rome as well Franks and Vandals fled the invading Huns and entered Roman Territory At the time Rome was vulnerable to attack Visigoths laid seige to Rome and plundered it for three days
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Huns untied under Attila, powerful chieftain With 100,000 soldiers Attila invaded both parts of the empire In their advance towards Rome they weakened due to famine and disease Pop Leo I was able to negotiate their withdrawl
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Roman emperor in the West became powerless Germanic tribes fought one another for western half Last Roman emperor was Romulus Augustulus 14 yrs. old After his exile no emperor ruled Rome and the western provinces Eastern half survived and came to be called the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire flourished and preserved the Greek and Roman culture Empire lasted until 1453 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks
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