The Long Decline of the Roman Empire

Crisis and Reform • Rome’s economy weakened • Hostile tribes on the borders • Pirates on the seas • No new sources of wealth • Raised taxes • Minted new currency with less metals • Created inflation

Rome Under Attack

Military and Political Turmoil • Less disciplined and loyal • soldiers loyal to commanders • Mercenaries • Citizens less loyal

Emperors Attempt Reform • Diocletian made reforms – Doubled size of army – Set fixed prices for goods – Claimed descent from gods – Divided the empire in two

Constantine Moves the Capital • Gained control in 312 AD • Continued reforms • Moved capital to Byzantium • Renamed it Constantinople

The Western Empire Crumbles • Germanic Invasions-indirect threat • Attila and the Huns-direct attack

Empire Ends • Last Emperor was a 14 year old boy named Romulus Augustulus • Ousted by Germanic forces in 476 • Eastern half of empire continued • Evolved into the Byzantine Empire • Cultural influence continued • Ideas, customs, institutions

What were the political Problems?

• Violence, instability, corruption • never created an effective system for replacing emperors • Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose • Emperors were overthrown and replaced by generals • Ruled for a short time and then were overthrown again • Over a 100 years, 37 Emperors reigned, 25 removed by assassination

What were the Economic Problems?

• High taxes • Inflation • After Rome stopped conquering new land, flow of gold and treasure stopped • Gold was still used to pay for luxury items • Less gold for currency meant that currency was less valuable • Merchants raised their prices • People stopped using currency and began to barter

What were the social problems?

• Decline in moral values • High crime and violence • Prostitution • Self indulgent and lazy • Cruelty- Gladiator combat

Unemployment

• Large estates with slave labor could produce more goods, more cheaply • put small farmers out of work • Thousands filled the cities, but no work • Free grain for bread had to be imported for 100,000 unemployed people

Urban Decay

• Wealthy Romans lived in large houses with marble wall, floors with intricate colored tiles, and window of small panes of glass • Most Romans lived in small, dark, dangerous, smelly apartments with six or more stories called islands • Many were forced to live on streets because they could not pay rent

Rise of Christianity

• Drastic changes in society • Christians were pacifists-wouldn’t defend Rome • The Church was attracting able leaders instead of the government or the military • Money was being use to build churches instead of to maintain the empire.