Fall Of The Roman Fall Of The Roman EmpireEmpireMr. ErmerMr. Ermer

World HistoryWorld History

Miami Beach Senior HighMiami Beach Senior High

Roman DeclineRoman Decline The last of the Five Good Emperors—The last of the Five Good Emperors—

Marcus Aurelius dies in A.D. 180Marcus Aurelius dies in A.D. 180 Civil wars follow for next 13 yearsCivil wars follow for next 13 years

Emperor Septimius Severus told his sons: Emperor Septimius Severus told his sons: “pay the soldiers, ignore everyone else”“pay the soldiers, ignore everyone else”

Severan emperors known for militaristic Severan emperors known for militaristic rule, and brutalityrule, and brutality

235-284: Throne held by whoever can take 235-284: Throne held by whoever can take it by forceit by force

22 emperors of this period, most die 22 emperors of this period, most die violentlyviolently

Constant invasion also caused problemsConstant invasion also caused problems

Economic & Military ProblemsEconomic & Military Problems

33rdrd Century: Invasions, civil wars and Century: Invasions, civil wars and plague almost ruins Roman economyplague almost ruins Roman economyPlague causes less people to trade & Plague causes less people to trade &

soldierssoldiersFarm production down, armies ravage themFarm production down, armies ravage themMoney loses valueMoney loses value

No money to recruit and pay soldiersNo money to recruit and pay soldiersGermans fill in the gap, but have little Germans fill in the gap, but have little

loyalty to generals, or the empireloyalty to generals, or the empire

Diocletian & ConstantineDiocletian & Constantine

Introduce Late Roman Empire with new Introduce Late Roman Empire with new governmental, economic and social governmental, economic and social structures—along with new religion +structures—along with new religion +

Diocletian believes empire too big to rule, Diocletian believes empire too big to rule, divides empire into four parts, each ruled divides empire into four parts, each ruled by own ruler—emperor still highest auth.by own ruler—emperor still highest auth.

Bureaucracy expanded, army reorganizedBureaucracy expanded, army reorganizedWage and price controls to help Wage and price controls to help inflationinflation

New Empire=New CapitalNew Empire=New Capital

Constantine builds new capital city in eastConstantine builds new capital city in eastPicks site of old Greek city Picks site of old Greek city ByzantiumByzantiumRenames city “Constantinople” (Istanbul)Renames city “Constantinople” (Istanbul)Had excellent strategic positionHad excellent strategic positionBecame his “New Rome” and capital of Became his “New Rome” and capital of

Eastern Roman Empire, as the empire Eastern Roman Empire, as the empire continues to split between East and Westcontinues to split between East and West

An Empire Divided Cannot An Empire Divided Cannot StandStandEmpire splits between East and WestEmpire splits between East and West

Western capital=RomeWestern capital=RomeEastern capital=ConstantinopleEastern capital=Constantinople

Western empire under attack by Western empire under attack by GermansGermans

350-400: Huns, tribe from Asia, and 350-400: Huns, tribe from Asia, and pressures Germanic Visigoths, moving pressures Germanic Visigoths, moving them into Roman territory, become allies them into Roman territory, become allies of Rome against Huns—revolt soon afterof Rome against Huns—revolt soon after

410: Visigoths sack Rome410: Visigoths sack Rome455: Vandals sack Rome455: Vandals sack Rome

The Fall of RomeThe Fall of Rome

A.D. 476: Emperor Romulus A.D. 476: Emperor Romulus Augustulus is the last emperor of Augustulus is the last emperor of Rome, deposed by German generalRome, deposed by German general

Germanic kingdoms replace empireGermanic kingdoms replace empireEastern, Byzantine Empire survivesEastern, Byzantine Empire survives

The Byzantine Empire lasts another 1,000 The Byzantine Empire lasts another 1,000 yrsyrs

Many reasons are given for the fall of Many reasons are given for the fall of Rome, none fully explain it.Rome, none fully explain it.

Reasons Given For Fall of Reasons Given For Fall of Empire:Empire:

Christianity’s embrace of spiritual lifeChristianity’s embrace of spiritual lifeNon-Italians eroding Roman valuesNon-Italians eroding Roman valuesLead poisoning causes mental declineLead poisoning causes mental declinePlague kills 1/10 of populationPlague kills 1/10 of populationFailure to advance technology b/c of Failure to advance technology b/c of

slaveryslavery Inadequate political system for large Inadequate political system for large

empireempire

Chapter 2, Lesson 2 Review:

• On page 30, write and answer questions 1-5