1. 6.5 Notes
The Fall of Rome

2. 6.5-Empire Weakens Weak Leaders
When the Pax Romana ended in 180 CE the Roman Empire began to weaken as it faced challenges from both inside and outside the empire
After the last good emperor died a series a civil wars began
Outside invasions made the emperor increase the army which lead to financial issues
This weakened the empire significantly
20 emperors between all but one died violently
Generals of the army became the real leaders

3. 6.5-Empire Weakens Economic Troubles
Empire’s instability led to robberies
Cost of the military raised= taxes raised
New money coined with less silver to help with economic trouble
Opposite effect people would not can the coin bc it wasn’t worth as much.
Caused inflation
Economic crisis – increased costs for military led to decreased prosperity, increased taxes, decreased trade, new money coined causing value of money to decrease and prices to rise - inflation

4. 6.5- Attempts at Reform Diocletian
successful reformer - becomes emperor in 284 CE
The crisis of the 200’s led to reform
Changes empire government structure to an absolute monarchy
Split the empire into two (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire)
Co-emperor in the West, both had advisors who were Caesars
Regulated all aspects of Roman life (sons followed the trades and social positions of their fathers, peasants were permanently tied to the land they farmed)
Increased size and budget for military
Switched economy to military production
Introduced new tax system
Reforms were successful

5. 6.5- Attempts at Reform Constantine
In 305 Diocletain and his co-emperor abdicated the throne so their Caesars could rise as emperors. Soon civil war broke out
Order was not restored until 312 when Constantine was proclaimed the new emperor by his troops
Constantine continued policies enacted under Diocletian – became emperor in 312 CE
State control over society
Converted to Christianity and legalized the practice of the religion in 313 CE in the Edict of Milan
Built a new capital in Eastern Roman Empire – Constantinople
Because the east was richer and better protected than the west.
Reforms enacted under Diocletian and Constantine only slowed the decline the eventual fall of the Roman Empire was inevitable

6. 6.5-Invasion and Fall Invasion and Fall of Rome
Germanic tribes has invaded Rome’s frontiers
Increasing shifts of population from Asia into Europe pushed these Germanic tribes into Roman Empire
In the 300’s a nomadic tribe called the Huns stormed out of the east and sent the Germanic tribes fleeing.
The Huns could not be stopped
In 370 the Huns attacked, Ostrogoth, a Germanic tribe and sent even more Germanic tribes fleeing into the Roman Empire
Pushed by the Huns other migrating tribes went into the Roman Empire and began attacking the Roman Empire
The Vandals tribe attacked Rome
In the 400’s Attila, a strong leader for the Huns, attacked Gaul
The Rome army allied with the Germanic tribes, The Visigoths, and defeated the Huns
Huns set out for Rome however Pope Leo I convinced them to leave

7. 6.5-Invasion and Fall Fall of the West
Despite the Hun’s withdrawl of Rome the Western Empire lay in shambles
Germanic Tribes ruled most of the western provinces including Italy
In 476 tribe leader Odoacer over threw the last Roman Emperor in the West
Considered the end of the Roman Empire
Empire in the East did not collapse
Lasted for several centuries
Last period of the Eastern Roman Empire is considered the Byzantine Empire

8. Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome
The Western Roman Empire falls in 476 CE after an attack led by the barbarian commander Odoacer
The Eastern Roman Empire does not collapse, but over time evolves into the Byzantine Empire due to influences from other cultures, especially Greek
Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome
Causes
Weak leadership after 180 CE *Invasions
Economic Crises *Social Unrest and Insecurity
Effects
*In the west, the disappearance of central authority and the creation of small kingdoms
*In the east, the continuation of the Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople