1. The Fall of the Roman Empire
Chapter 6 Unit 4
Notes

2. The fall of the roman empire
Main idea:
Empire building: internal problems and invasions spurred the division and decline of the roman empire
Why now:
Decline and fall of great civilizations is a repeating pattern in world history
Terms:
Inflation, mercenary, Diocletian, Constantinople and Attila

3. The Fall of The Roman Empire
Setting the Stage:
3rd century AD Rome had many problems (external and internal)
Drastic economic, military, and political reforms couldn’t hold off the collapse

4. A Century In Crisis
Death of Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) ended the Pax Romana
Future rulers lack of experience leads to more problems and decline

5. A Century In Crisis Rome’s Economy Weakens
Factors of weakening economy:
Hostile tribes/pirates disrupted trade
Lack of new sources of gold/silver
Raised taxes for more revenue
Made more money with less silver
INFLATION: drop in value of $$ and rise in prices

6. A Century In Crisis Factors of agricultural decline:
Harvest meager (over worked land)
War destroyed lands
Food shortage = starvation and disease = drop in population

7. A Century in Crisis Military and Political Turmoil Military issues:
Less discipline and loyalty
Allegiance to commander NOT Rome
Recruited mercenaries (hired soldiers) to protect gov’t
Loss in patriotism

8. Emperors Attempt Reform
Empire stayed intact for 200 more years
Reform minded Emperors
Division of Empire
Diocletian Reforms the Empire:
Ruled in 284 AD
Limited freedoms
Restored order and increased strength
Claimed to be a descendent of the Gods

9. Emperors Attempt Reform
Diocletian con’t…
Believed empire was too large so divided it in 2:
East: Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt
West: Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain
Diocletian took the east and gave the west to a co-ruler
Diocletian maintained overall control
East became center of trade and wealth
Diocletian was ill, civil war broke out and Constantine took over

10. Emperors Attempt Reform
Constantine Moves the Capital
Gained control of west in AD 312 and 12 years later gained control of east
AD 330 moved capital to Byzantium on the Bosporus Strait (connected E + W)
Center of power shifted to east
Called Constantinople (City of Constantine)
Constantine died, Empire divides again:
W = Fall and E = survive

11. The Western Empire Crumbles
Decline took many years:
Internal conflicts
Outside invasions
Germanic Invasions
Northern border had co-existed
370 Huns moved into the area and destroyed all in path
Germanics pushed into Rome to avoid Huns
Barbarians = non Romans
Lack of Army = German plunder Rome

12. The Western Empire Crumbles
Attila the Hun
Indirectly responsible for German invasion of Rome
Huns destroyed 70 cities in the east (but Constantinople)
452 arrive in Rome
Rome weak from disease and famine

13. The Western Empire Crumbles
Last emperor Romulus Augustus (14)
Ousted by Germans in 476
Eastern half = Byzantium
Flourished for next 1000 years
Emperors saw themselves as heirs to Augustus Caesar

14. Multiple Causes of the Fall of Rome
Contributing Factors
POLITICAL
Office seen as a burden
Military interfered
Civil war
Division of Empire
SOCIAL
Decline in interests
Low confidence
Lack of Patriotism
Rich/Poor contrast
Decline in population
Economic
Poor harvests
Disruption in trade
Inflation
Tax burden
Gap between rich and poor
Military
Threats in North
Low funds for defense
Immediate Causes = Germanic Tribes and Huns