Brain Pop Video

The Fall of Rome

Roman Empire

CAUSES FOR THE DECLINE OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

Economy

Military Problems

Political Issues

Social Problems

-Government started coining more

money with less silver. This led to more Inflation which is the drop in value of money but prices of goods rise.

-Invaders and Pirates disrupt trade and make it more expensive to defend the empire.

-There were food shortages which led to a population decline. The soil is overworked and farmers cannot produce as much.

-Defense problems due to frequent

attacks by “Barbarians” or non-

Romans.

-Indifference (don’t care, lazy, soft) of

citizens and military due to the collapse

of discipline and loyalty. Increased use

of mercenaries. Rome hired mercenaries

or recruit Barbarians who were

professionals paid to fight. These

mercenaries were not loyal to Rome.

They were only loyal to money.

-Loss of Loyalty. Roman soldiers started

to show more loyalty to their commanders

because they were promised wealth for

their service.

-Frequent Civil conflict erupted in the Empire because

many military leaders were

fighting to be emperor.

As a result, lots of civil wars

were fought over a 50 year

period for the right to rule

-Fewer people wanted to hold political office so

there was a series of weak and ineffective rulers.● The Empire was too big to manage

● Politics was no longer a desired occupation

○ too expensive, public entertainment was paid out of pocket

● Politicians no longer had any influence since emperors were

claiming supreme power

People start to lose faith and love for Rome because of how bad everything is

● barbarians

● invasions

● bad economy

The Empire seems less capable of taking care of its people

As a result of that loss

of love and faith,

loyalty and patriotism

decline in the Empire

Moral Decay- loss of faith in Rome and the family.

Group ActivityWhat do you think is the biggest reason

for the fall of the Roman Empire?

DIVISION OF THE EMPIRE AND LAST LEGS OF WESTERN ROME

-Diocletian’s Reforms

-Constantine’s Changes

-Finality of the Western Empire

-Diocletian becomes emperor in 284 A.D.

-He will govern as an absolute ruler and limit personal

freedoms.

Reforms under Diocletian Restored order to the Empire and increased strength.

Doubled the size of the Roman Army

Set prices for goods and services to control inflation

Restored prestige to the throne.

Diocletian will divide the empire because it was too

large for one ruler to manage

How was the Roman Empire Divided

Divides the Empire into two parts-

Greek speaking East- Greece, Anatolia, Syria and Egypt

Latin Speaking West- Italy, Gaul, Britain, and Spain

Diocletian takes the East and General Maximian takes the west.

TPS: Why would

Diocletian take

the East?

What are the Romance Languages?Latin- the stem for all the Romance

Languages used today. Example: Spanish,

Italian, French, Portuguese, Romanian, etc…

Constantine will

become ruler over

both halves of the

Empire in 324 AD.

-Reunited Rome and ruled over the entire empire.

-Moved the Capital from Rome to Byzantium and

renamed it Constantinople.

-Passed the Edict of Milan in 313 AD that allowed

religious tolerance throughout the empire

-Converted to Christianity on his deathbed-

provided unity of the Empire.

Theodosius 379 AD

-Made Christianity the official state

religion of the Roman Empire.

-Theodosius is the last emperor to rule

over the Eastern and Western

Hemisphere. He will permanently

divide the Empire in 395 AD.

The End of the Empire… Invaders 476 AD

Huns, Burgundians, Visigoths, Vandals, Franks

What problems was the Empire experiencing?Western Rome experienced military and financial

problems.

Video- Rise and Fall

of the Roman Empire.

More about InvasionsWho was Attila the Hun?Attila and other Barbarian groups invade

Rome and rule as “Kings.”

The Huns were moving West from Asia,

pushing the Germanic tribes (Barbarians)

into Rome. This is partly why Barbarians

were invading Rome.

Attila the Hun unites the Huns and

attacks the Empire on both sides and is

able to take almost all of Rome’s lands

This marks the end of the West

What happens to the last

Emperor of Rome?The Emperor in the west is exiled

and the West is destroyed.

In 476, the 14 year old emperor of the West Empire

will be deposed by a barbarian named Odoacer. No

one tries to rule the West after that.

Which half falls? Which half prevails (continues)?-The West fails

-The East prevails

-The West is unstable

while the East is rich and flourishes

476 AD