1. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Diocletian
The Huns
Constantine

2. The Decline Problems and Upheavals
Political upheavals, the plague, and the division of the empire led to its decline
After Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. Rome had a period of conflict, confusion, and civil war
For 50 years, the Roman throne was occupied by whoever had military strength to seize it
22 emperors, most died violently
Invasions
East: Sassanid Persian
Germanic tribes

3. Problems and Upheavals
Invasions, civil wars, and plague almost caused an economic collapse in the third century
Plague: An epidemic disease
Caused a labor shortage, which led to a decline in trade
Farm production declined
Because crops were ravaged by invaders
By the mid-third century, Rome had to hire Germans to fight
The didn’t understand Roman traditions and had little loyality to the empire or emperors

4. Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine
Two emperors that helped restore the Roman empire
This new Roman empire included:
A new governmental structure
A rigid economic and social system
New state religion: Christianity
Diocletian divided the empire into four units, each with its own ruler under his rule
Constantine expanded the policies of Diocletian
Biggest project was the building of Constantinople, present day Istanbul, Turkey
This “new” Rome became the center of the Eastern Empire

5. Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine
The lack of population made it difficult to raise and pay for an army through taxes
Inflation: A rapid increase in taxes
Diocletian issued a price edict in 301 that set wages and prices of goods
Idea failed
The emperors also forced people to stay in their vocations, or style of jobs

6. The Fall and Germanic Tribes
The migration of Germanic tribes helped bring an end to the Roman Empire
The restored empire of Diocletian and Constantine lasted for more than 100 years
Divided into two parts
Eastern Roman Empire: Capital was Constantinople
Western Roman Empire: Capital was Rome
The Huns, from Asia, entered the empire to the east and put pressure on the Germanic Visigoths
Visigoths were Roman allies then revolted against Rome

7. Germanic Tribes More Germans now crossed into the Roman empire
In 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410
The Vandals poured into southern Spain and Africa
In 455, the sacked Rome
The words vandal and vandalize come from this tribe
The western empire (Rome) fell in 476 when its emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic head of the Army
The eastern empire continued to thrive in Constantinople

8. Theories on the decline of the Roman Empire
Christianity’s emphasis on a spiritual kingdom weakened Roman military values
Traditional Roman values declined as non-Italians gained prominence in the empire
Lead poisoning through leaden water pipes and cups caused a mental decline in the population
Plague wiped out one-tenth of the population
Rome failed to advance technologically due to slavery
Rome could not create a workable political system