The Fall of the Roman Empire

Chapter 6 Unit 4 Notes

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

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

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

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

A Century In Crisis

 Factors of agricultural decline:  Harvest meager (over worked land)   War destroyed lands Food shortage = starvation and disease = drop in population

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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