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The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

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1 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

2

3 What was the Roman Empire?
There were two periods of Roman government. Roman Republic 509 BCE-27 BCE Roman Empire 27 BCE-476 CE Rome technically had an “empire” under the Roman Republic. But the term “Roman Empire” refers to the time period, beginning with Augustus, when Rome was ruled by emperors.

4 Why had Rome become so successful?

5 What was the Pax Romana?

6 Octavian Becomes Augustus
Octavian was sole ruler of Rome after his forces defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium The Senate gave him the name “Augustus,” meaning “most high” 27 BCE – Octavian, now referred to as Augustus, was made consul for life by the Senate Also made “Princeps,” meaning “first citizen” Origin of the word “prince” Also made “Imperator,” meaning “successful general” Origin of the word “emperor” Also made “Pontifex Maximus,” or “chief religious leader Origin of the word “pontiff” (used to describe the pope today) Also made a tribune He had the power to call the Senate, veto the Senate’s laws, and make laws himself

7 What was the Pax Romana? Established by Augustus 27 B.C.E
Lasted nearly 200 years Benefits enjoyed by 60 million people

8 Rome under Augustus: A Golden Age
Attempted to reform public morals by promoting family life (largely unsuccessful). Began the practice of declaring emperors gods, and of picking their own successors. (He called Haley’s Comet the spirit of Caesar.) Built and maintained the empire’s infrastructure (e.g., roads). Encouraged the growth of business. Established fire and police departments for Rome. Established a strong money system. Extended citizenship to more and more provincials. Said he “found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” Jesus, the founder of Christianity, was born in the Roman province of Judea during the reign of Augustus.

9 Primus inter pares “First among equals”
Augustus and later emperors tried to maintain the façade that they were elected officials rather than dictators Being “first among equals” gave the illusion that an emperor was the most prestigious and important member of the Roman Senate, but that each senator was simultaneously equally important In reality, the Roman emperors ruled with little input from anyone else 9

10 The Fall of Rome: WHAT WENT WRONG?
For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world. Rome continued to expand to include 3 continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.

11 Roman Empire Expansion
What is needed to control such a vast empire?

12 The Fall of Rome

13 Political Causes Oppressive government, loss of popular support
Increased government corruption Division of empire – Too large to control Internal power struggles – Lack of organized system of succession

14 Diocletian (284—305) and the Division of the Roman Empire
Diocletian believed that going forward under the current system of Roman Imperial government was unsustainable. He initiated a number of reforms to prevent a return to the anarchy of previous generations and maintain the viability of the Empire. These included splitting the Empire into two in order to be more manageable, creating a new system of Imperial succession to answer the question of who would be Emperor of the newly divided East and West, called the system of "Tetrarchy", or "rule of four", whereby a senior emperor would rule in the East and West, and each would have a junior emperor.

15 Constantine ( ) Constantine is famed for his rebuilding of Byzantium as Constantinople (Constantine's City). Constantine is best remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan in 313 and the Council of Nicaea in 325, which fully legalized and legitimized Christianity in the Empire for the first time. These actions are considered major factors in the spread of Christianity and helped to give him the title of the "first Christian Emperor."

16 Economic Causes Increase in taxes to support army and bureaucracy
Reliance on slave labor Indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners Unemployment Welfare system

17 Social Causes Population decline caused by war and disease
Decline in patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty Spread of Christianity Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest Bread and Circus

18 Military Causes Poorly trained armies Army deteriorates
Little loyalty among hired soldiers Threat of the Huns Series of Germanic invasions beginning in 3rd century

19 External Forces Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed the Roman frontier and invaded Greece, Italy, Spain, and coastal areas of Asia Minor. The warmer climate, rich farmlands, and wealth of the Roman lands attracted the Germanic tribes. By the 5th century, the Roman Empire was overrun by barbarians.

20 Attila the Hun Attila the Hun was King of the Huns (circa ). He was one of the most feared and notorious barbarians of all time. Sweeping west across the Rhine River into Gaul, Attila's forces fought the Romans at the Battle of Châlons in 451 CE. Against all odds, the Huns were defeated. Attila later died mysteriously, some say of a massive nose bleed. Attila’s retreat across the Rhine was the last victory achieved in the name of the Western Roman Empire.

21 Odoacer Odoacer (435 – 493), was the half Hunnish, half Scirian chieftain of the Germanic Heruli. He is best known to history as the man who deposed the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, in As the first “barbarian king” of Italy, 476 is traditionally considered the end of the Western Roman Empire.

22 The Fall of Rome Once the Roman army could no longer defend its borders, Germanic tribes began pouring into Europe. One Roman province fell after another. In 476 A.D., the Western Roman emperor was overthrown. Odoacer was then proclaimed king of Italy. The ancient world was drawing to a close.

23 Name:______________________ Date:_______
Political Causes Economic Causes Military Causes Decline Of Rome Social Causes

24 Causes of the Decline of Rome
Increase in taxes to support army and bureaucracy Poorly trained armies Division of empire Population decline caused by war and disease Little loyalty among hired soldiers Decline in patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty Reliance on slave labor Oppressive government, loss of popular support Internal power struggles Series of Germanic invasions Indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest Increased government corruption

25 Name:______________________ Date:_______
Political Causes Oppressive government, loss of popular support Increased government corruption Division of empire Internal power struggles Economic Causes Military Causes Decline Of Rome Increase in taxes to support army and bureaucracy Reliance on slave labor Indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners Poorly trained armies Little loyalty among hired soldiers Series of Germanic invasions Social Causes Population decline caused by war and disease Decline in patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest

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