1. End of Rome

2. Troubles Ahead 3rd Century A.D., Rome faced many problems.
Both came from inside the empire & from outside.
Diocletian divided the empire into 2 sections in 285 AD.
Greek-Speaking East
Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt
Latin-Speaking West
Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain

3. Economy Weakens Decline begins after the “pax romana” in 3rd Century.
Invaders made trade unsafe on sea and on roads.
The rich spent gold and silver on luxury items from Asia which drained Rome of these precious metals.
Inflation is a drastic drop in the value of money coupled with rising prices for items.
Agriculture decreased because of infertile soil, and farmland destroyed by war.
Food shortages
Spread of disease

4. Military Troubles Germanic tribes were invading Rome.
Soldiers no longer had discipline or loyalty to Rome.
Soldiers had loyalty only to their commanders, who fought not for Rome, but to try to become the emperor.
To defend Rome, mercenaries were recruited – foreign soldiers who fought for money.

5. Political Troubles
Troubles in the empire made citizens lose patriotism for Rome.
Being a political official was no longer thought to be an honor.
Few people wanted to serve in the government.
Out of 26 generals who became emperors, 25 met violent deaths.

6. Temporary Help Diocletian became a strong leader in 284 AD.
Doubled the size of Roman armies
Diocletian kept control of the Greek-Speaking East, and shared power in the Latin-Speaking West with his 1st in command - Maximianus.
Diocletian died in 311 AD, and another Civil War Broke out

7. Constantine
Constantine will gain power of the western empire in 312 AD.
In 324 AD he gained control of the eastern empire .
Now he ruled both sides!
In 330 AD he moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium; in what is now Turkey.
The city was a center for trade and the empires wealth grew.
The city was later named Constantinople.

8. After Constantine’s death the empire was divided again and in 370 AD
After Constantine’s death the empire was divided again and in 370 AD. A group of Mongols from central Asia invaded.
The East would survive!
The West would fall!
From 376 AD to 476, huge numbers of Germanic tribes poured into Rome to get away from the fierce huns.
The Germanic tribes moved through Gaul, Spain and North Africa.

9. Attila the Hun Meanwhile the Huns united under one ruler in 444 AD.
He was Attila. Also called Attila the Hun.
Attila will invade both empires and plunder 70 cities.
He will never be able to take either capital though. Rome or Constantinople
Due to disease & and famine.

10. Attila will die in 453 AD, but the Germanic tribes continue to invade.
Last Roman Emperor was taken over by German forces in 476 AD.
Western Part of Roman Empire had disappeared.
The Eastern part of the Empire will last another 1,000 years, but fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD.
Was came to be called the Byzantine Empire.

11. Video