1. CAUSES FOR THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

2. SOCIAL POLITICAL ECONOMIC MILITARY
decline in morals (people care more for their pleasures than their empire)
lack of patriotism
increase in the separation between rich and poor – division between social classes
decline in population due to disease (the plague from contact with other societies)
introduction of Christianity
government corruption
no set system for choosing emperors leads to many weak and incompetent emperors
citizens do not want participate in government
military is interfering in politics, the emperor’s private army often choosing the ruler.
empire is divided into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire
capital of empire is moved to Constantinople in the Eastern Roman Empire
widening gap between rich and poor
high unemployment
inflation
increased spending on military
poor harvests
disrupted trade
less conquests less gold and wealth from conquered areas
gold and silver drain
very high taxes are hurting the people
reliance on mercenaries (hired soldiers) since Roman citizens are no longer willing to fight – no loyalty to empire by the soldiers
invasions by Germanic tribes from the North
low funds for defense

3. INTERNAL CAUSES EXTERNAL CAUSES
decline in morals
decline in patriotism
increase in the separation between rich and poor – division between social classes
government corruption
no set system for choosing emperors leads to many weak and incompetent emperors
citizens do not want participate in government
military is interfering in politics, the emperor’s private army often choosing the ruler.
empire is divided into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire
capital of empire is moved to Constantinople in the Eastern Roman Empire
widening gap between rich and poor
high unemployment
inflation
increased spending on military
poor harvests
very high taxes are hurting the people
reliance on mercenaries (hired soldiers) since Roman citizens are no longer willing to fight – no loyalty to empire by the soldiers
low funds for defense
decline in population due to disease (the plague from contact with other societies)
introduction of Christianity
disrupted trade
less conquests less gold and wealth from conquered areas
gold and silver drain
invasions by Germanic tribes from the North