1. The Fall of Rome
World History

2. I. Problems in the Empire
A. Political Instability
1. Death of Marcus Aurelius – end of Pax Romana
2. Commodus bankrupted treasury
3. From , the Empire had emperors
4. Political instability and civil wars weakened defenses

3. I. Problems in the Empire
B. Economic Decline
1. Caused by political instability
2. Government minted more coins=inflation
3. Taxes increased – businesses & farms closed

4. I. Problems in the Empire
C. Reforms
1. Diocletian and Constantine held off fall
2. Diocletian ( )
a. Increased army and reinforced borders
b. Split in 2 districts, east and west
c. Edict of Prices – froze wages, set prices
d. Required people to keep their jobs

5. I. Problems in the Empire
3. Constantine
a. Reinforced Diocletian’s reforms
b. Declared most jobs hereditary
c. Moved capital to Byzantium; renamed Constantinople
4. Theodosius I
a. Willed the Empire to be split into 2 empires
b. Eastern empire=Byzantine Empire

7. I. Problems in the Empire
D. Invasions
1. Germans
a. Why invade?
1.) Warmer climate
2.) Grazing land
3.) Rome’s wealth
4.) Revenge
b. Other Germanic groups
1.) Visigoths, Vandals, Franks, Anglos, Saxons
2.) In 410, Visigoth chief invaded Rome

8. I. Problems in the Empire
2. The Huns
a. Attila raided Eastern Empire, moved west to Gaul
b. Stopped by Roman and Visigoth army
c. Turned on Rome until stopped by plague and famine
d. Weakened Rome greatly

9. I. Problems in the Empire
E. The End
1. Rome too weak to defend from Germanic groups
2. In 476, Emperor Romulus Augustulus overthrown
3. German soldier Odoacer named himself king of Italy
4. Marks official end of Western Roman Empire