1. THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (4) objectives:
To summarize the decline of the Roman empire.
The reforms of Diocletian and Constantine.
To trace the fall of the western Roman Empire.

2. The Roman Empire maintained control over large areas of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in the ancient world. Its slow decline and eventual fall was a centuries-long historical process with many twists and turns. Many factors contributed to its demise.

4. What were the causes of each conditions that led to the decline of the Roman empire?
Disruption of trade
Gold and silver drain
Inflation
Decline of loyalty and discipline in military
Citizen indifference and loss of patriotism

5. Answers:
Disruption of trade – raids from hostiles tribes and by pirates on the Mediterranean
Gold and silver drain – frequent wars; lavish spending by the wealthy
Inflation – to pay off debts, government raised taxes and coined more money with less silver, which led to inflation.
Decline of loyalty and discipline in military –recruitment of foreign mercenaries; Fighting among military commanders for the throne.
Citizen indifference and loss of patriotism- Declining economic, military and social conditions; High personal cost of holding political office.

6. Diocletian

7. What steps did Diocletian take to restore order and reform the empire?
Diocletian took the throne as emperor in 280 A.D. He concluded that the empire was too large and complex to be ruled by only a single emperor. Therefore, he divided the empire into eastern and western halves to make it easier to govern.
To save the economy he revised the tax system so that it was based on payments in kind. He order farmers to remain on land and workers to stay in jobs for life.
Diocletian was able to bring the army back under control by making several changes.
He try to restore the power and the authority of the emperor by naming himself a son of the chief Roman god.
Diocletian attempted to use the state religion as a unifying element. This began the so-called "Great Persecution."

8. Constantine

9. What did Constantine do to reform the empire?
He became emperor of both halves of the empire in 324 A.D. He extended the reforms of Diocletian.
A few years later he shifted the center of the empire to the East, building the city of Constantinople, the "New Rome.“ This caused the best talent and wealthiest families to leave Rome for the East.
He restored prosperity in the East by increasing the gold currency and by balancing the eastern and western economies.
He also restore the concept of the single ruler.
He ended the persecution of Christianity and by 396 A.D, it had become the state religion of the Roman empire, both eastern and western.

15. Questions: What were the four immediate causes of the fall of Rome?
Which of the social factors do you think was most important?

16. What were the four immediate causes of the fall of Rome?
Answers:
What were the four immediate causes of the fall of Rome?
Pressure from Huns.
Invasion by Germanic tribes and by Huns
Sack of Rome –separation of western empire from wealthier eastern part. (324 A.D.)
Conquest by invaders.