1. Rome The Long Decline

2. Identify 3 major problems the United States is dealing with currently.
US Problems
Identify 3 major problems the United States is dealing with currently.

3. Rise of Christianity 26 AD Jesus begins preaching
29 AD Jesus is crucified
Followers spread & establish organization
Conversion & loving god
Romans persecute Christians
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

4. Spread of Christianity

5. Fall of Judea
Rome respected its belief in one god and allowed them to not worship the emperor
66 AD Jews revolt
Romans crush
Temple torn down (Wailing Wall)
Jews are scattered and not allowed back

6. Diocletian’s Reforms

7. Traders & Invaders

8. Internal Decay--Military
Army lacks discipline
Fat and Lazy
Romans forced to hire foreign soldiers to defend borders—mercenaries.
Military interference in government
“This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished and even the military spirit evaporated.”

9. Internal Decay--Economic
Heavy taxes to support government & army
High inflation & loss of war loot
Reliance on slave labor
Tax based decline due to war & disease
Increased landless poor
Agricultural output falls

10. Internal Decay--Political
Oppressive government loses popular support
Corruption
Power struggles—civil wars

11. “Bread & Circuses” Free grain for the poor
What were some possible negative consequences of the following policy?

12. Internal Decay--Social
Population declines
Declining patriotism, discipline, devotion to duty
Devotion of upper
classes to luxury and
self-interest
Self-reliance of
masses undermined
Moral decay
Wine & women painted on a fresco in a banquet room in Pompeii
It shows the lives of the upper class