1. Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)
Section 6

2. Problems of the Empire
Emperors faced population decline, unrest, and attacks
Civil War and violent deaths of emperors
Legions were no longer able to successfully defend Rome’s borders
Travel became unsafe
Population decreases due to a great plague
Taxes rose, but money declined in value
Coins were minted containing copper and lead reducing their value
Merchants raised prices
Inflation (a rise in prices that decreases the value of money) *Some people reverted to bartering

3. Diocletian
*Also creates an ordered society where everything was controlled by the government.
Ex. Sons had to follow trades/positions of their fathers & peasants were permanently tied to the land they farmed
Named emperor by the army in A.D 284 – an able administrator
He divided the empire in two, realizing it was too large. Maximian ruled the west while he took the east

4. Diocletian Continued
Ended lawlessness in the empire and drove out invading barbarians (by greatly increasing the size of the army).
Tried to improve commerce and manufacturing through setting price and wage controls in an effort to stop inflation

5. Constantine Became sole emperor of a reunited empire in AD 324
His reign is know for two great achievements:
*New (Christian) Capitol City - Constantinople
*Protection of Christians
By A.D. 400, however, two empires again existed (east and west), with the west growing constantly weaker.

6. The Germans
The most important enemies attacking the Romans were the Germanic tribes that lived beyond the Rhine and Danube Rivers
Exs. Ostrogoths, Vandals, Visigoths, etc.
Many Germans moved peacefully into the empire due to pressure from the Asiatic tribe further east called the Huns
*Attila being the most famous Hun leader
(“Attila the Hun”)

7. Visigoths Defeat Romans in A.D. 378 @ Battle of Adrianople
Sack Rome itself in A.D. 410 under their leader Alaric
*He dies shortly thereafter and they migrate to Spain

8. One Germanic tribe caused senseless destruction of everything in their path and were called the Vandals
*They sack Rome in 455 AD
**An undeserved reputation…?

9. While the eastern part of the empire regrouped and regained strength, the west weakened further.
In A.D. 476 the last Roman Emperor in the West was overthrown by the Barbarians (Germans). His name was Romulus Augustulus
*Odoacer, the Germanic
leader who overthrows
Romulus Augustulus

10. Results of Rome’s Decline
Literacy declined
Knowledge declined
People fled from the cities
Libraries were destroyed
Because the Germanic tribes were unable at that time to hold and rule such a large empire, the former Western Roman Empire fell into anarchy, chaos, and many smaller kingdoms

11. Why Rome Declined -Army
The once mighty legions became plagued by poor leaders & lack of discipline
Military interference in the choice of the emperor also hurt the stability of the empire
* Too many assassinations!

12. Barbarian Invaders
Not until the empire was already declining, however, were the barbarians able to break through the frontiers

13. Political Weakness
Many soldiers lost a sense of loyalty to Rome and instead served whomever could pay them the most
Rome tried to control a large empire with a government set up to run a city state.
There was no civilian control of the military

14. Economic Decline
After Trajan’s rule the Roman government could no longer maintain itself on rich plunder from foreign wars.
Government expenses were heavy. Taxes had to finance construction of public buildings, maintain the army, and run two (east & west) governments.
Decreased revenue ($) led to unrepaired roads & increase in banditry
Increasing danger in travel led to a decrease in trade
Wealth was concentrated in the hands of too few!

15. Social Changes
~ Early Romans, though uncultured, were hard working and
very patriotic
~ Romans of the later empire lost this patriotism
~ Divide between rich and poor becomes greater
and greater, causing bitterness and lack of loyalty to Rome