Fall of RomeFall of Rome

Coach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 9, Section 3Chapter 9, Section 3

ConstantineConstantine

ConstantineConstantine – Emperor of Rome – Emperor of Rome from 312 – 337 AD. He converted to from 312 – 337 AD. He converted to Christianity after a vision and Christianity after a vision and strongly encouraged the spread of strongly encouraged the spread of Christianity. (We discussed Christianity. (We discussed Constantine earlier in the year when Constantine earlier in the year when we studied chapter 10.)we studied chapter 10.)

ConstantineConstantine

From Good Rule to BadFrom Good Rule to Bad

The Roman Empire began its decline in The Roman Empire began its decline in 180 AD when Marcus Aurelius died 180 AD when Marcus Aurelius died and left his son Commodus in power.and left his son Commodus in power.

Commodus mistakenly allowed others Commodus mistakenly allowed others to help him run the empire causing to help him run the empire causing many problems. He failed to recognize many problems. He failed to recognize the Senate on important decisions and the Senate on important decisions and bribed the army for power.bribed the army for power.

CommodusCommodus

He was only 18 He was only 18 when he took when he took power. power.

This picture is him This picture is him dressed up as dressed up as Hercules. He often Hercules. He often portrayed him in the portrayed him in the Colosseum.Colosseum.

He was assassinated He was assassinated on December 31, on December 31, 192 AD.192 AD.

Weak, Corrupt RulersWeak, Corrupt Rulers

After Commodus, emperors were After Commodus, emperors were often generals and not politicians. often generals and not politicians. They stole money from the treasury They stole money from the treasury and used it for themselves. and used it for themselves.

The Roman economy became weak The Roman economy became weak and the senate lost power. Between and the senate lost power. Between 180 – 284 AD, Rome had 29 180 – 284 AD, Rome had 29 emperors. (Most were assassinated.)emperors. (Most were assassinated.)

Mercenary ArmyMercenary Army

The Roman army had been reduced The Roman army had been reduced from willing citizens to from willing citizens to mercenariesmercenaries – foreign soldiers who worked for – foreign soldiers who worked for pay. The mercenaries often pay. The mercenaries often switched sides based on who was switched sides based on who was paying more. The mighty Roman paying more. The mighty Roman soldier was a memory.soldier was a memory.

Size of EmpireSize of Empire

The size of the empire was so large The size of the empire was so large that it became harder to defend that it became harder to defend without a standing army. Many without a standing army. Many conquered territories regained their conquered territories regained their independence. independence.

Serious Economic Serious Economic ProblemProblem

When Rome stopped conquering new When Rome stopped conquering new lands, wealth for the empire was hard lands, wealth for the empire was hard to obtain. The empire raised taxes to obtain. The empire raised taxes and people became unemployed.and people became unemployed.

Food was scarce so its price went up. Food was scarce so its price went up. The government had to make more The government had to make more coins, thus resulting in coins, thus resulting in inflationinflation – – economic situation in which more economic situation in which more money circulates, but has less value.money circulates, but has less value.

Constantine and Constantine and ChristianityChristianity

After Diocletian retired in 305 AD, a After Diocletian retired in 305 AD, a struggle for powers between struggle for powers between generals lasted for 7 years. The generals lasted for 7 years. The general that finally won was general that finally won was Constantine.Constantine.

Constantine became the emperor of Constantine became the emperor of the western Roman empire.the western Roman empire.

Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

In 313 AD, Constantine and Licinius In 313 AD, Constantine and Licinius (Ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire) (Ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire) declared that the Roman Empire would declared that the Roman Empire would have religious freedom in both the have religious freedom in both the Eastern and Western halves.Eastern and Western halves.

Christians could now organize churches Christians could now organize churches and get land back that had been taken and get land back that had been taken from them. Christianity was about to from them. Christianity was about to become the official religion of the Roman become the official religion of the Roman Empire.Empire.

Another Christian Another Christian VictoryVictory

In 324 AD, Constantine won several In 324 AD, Constantine won several battles against Licinius and gained battles against Licinius and gained control of the entire empire.control of the entire empire.

This was a victory for the Christians This was a victory for the Christians because Licinius was still torturing because Licinius was still torturing Christians in the Eastern half of the Christians in the Eastern half of the empire.empire.

Constantine saw this as proof that Constantine saw this as proof that God was working through him.God was working through him.

Building a FaithBuilding a Faith

During his 25 years as emperor, Constantine During his 25 years as emperor, Constantine helped the Christian religion grow. He helped the Christian religion grow. He helped fund several churches including St. helped fund several churches including St. Peter’s church in Rome. Peter’s church in Rome.

Constantine also planned and paid for a Constantine also planned and paid for a church in Jerusalem where it was said that church in Jerusalem where it was said that Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. the dead.

Today, St. Peter’s Church is home to the Today, St. Peter’s Church is home to the Pope in Vatican City. It is also the site of St. Pope in Vatican City. It is also the site of St. Peter’s tomb.Peter’s tomb.

Church of the Holy Church of the Holy Sepulchre:Sepulchre:Aerial ViewAerial View

Church of the Holy Church of the Holy Sepulchre:Sepulchre:

view inside the rotundaview inside the rotunda

The place where Jesus is The place where Jesus is believed to have been believed to have been

crucifiedcrucified

Place some believe Jesus Place some believe Jesus was buried…was buried…

St. Peters Church:St. Peters Church:view from the Tiber Riverview from the Tiber River

Interior of St. Peter’s Interior of St. Peter’s ChurchChurch

A New CapitalA New Capital

In 330 AD, Constantine moved the In 330 AD, Constantine moved the capital of the Roman empire to capital of the Roman empire to Byzantium, which later was called Byzantium, which later was called Constantinople. Constantinople.

With the move, the power of the With the move, the power of the Roman empire was clearly in the Roman empire was clearly in the east.east.

Invasions and CollapseInvasions and Collapse

Once Constantine died, invaders came Once Constantine died, invaders came inside the empire and overwhelmed it. inside the empire and overwhelmed it. The invaders were Germanic tribes The invaders were Germanic tribes whom the Romans called barbarians.whom the Romans called barbarians.

In 410 AD, the Visigoths captured and In 410 AD, the Visigoths captured and looted Rome. The Vandals took Rome looted Rome. The Vandals took Rome in 455 AD. The last Roman emperor in 455 AD. The last Roman emperor was Romulus Augustus (He was 14 was Romulus Augustus (He was 14 when he took power.) when he took power.)