The Fall of the Roman The Fall of the Roman EmpireEmpire

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

1.1. Summarize the decline of the Summarize the decline of the Roman Roman

Empire.Empire.

2. Describe the reforms of Diocletian 2. Describe the reforms of Diocletian and and

Constantine.Constantine.

3. Trace the fall of the Western Roman 3. Trace the fall of the Western Roman

Empire.Empire.

A Century of CrisisA Century of Crisis

Marcus Aurelius- Marcus Aurelius-

last emperor to last emperor to

rule during the rule during the

Pax RomanaPax Romana Inept rulers followedInept rulers followed

ROME’S ECONOMY WEAKENSROME’S ECONOMY WEAKENS Hostile tribes on the Hostile tribes on the

bordersborders Pirates in the Pirates in the

MediterraneanMediterranean No new sources of gold No new sources of gold

and silverand silver Needed money, so they Needed money, so they

raised taxesraised taxes Minted coins with less silverMinted coins with less silver Result was inflationResult was inflation

Drop in the value of money Drop in the value of money couple with rise in prices for couple with rise in prices for goodsgoods

Crops failedCrops failed FamineFamine DiseaseDisease Population declinePopulation decline

Military and Political TurmoilMilitary and Political Turmoil

Generals and soldiers became less Generals and soldiers became less loyalloyalGave allegiance to commandersGave allegiance to commanders

To defend the empire, the Roman To defend the empire, the Roman govt hired govt hired mercenariesmercenariesForeign soldiers who fought for moneyForeign soldiers who fought for money

Citizens were losing loyaltyCitizens were losing loyalty

Emperors attempt ReformEmperors attempt Reform DiocletianDiocletian

284 A.D 284 A.D Army leaderArmy leader Iron fist- limited personal Iron fist- limited personal

freedomsfreedoms Doubled size of the armyDoubled size of the army Worked to control Worked to control

inflationinflation Presented himself as a Presented himself as a

godgod Divided the empire into Divided the empire into

Greek-speaking East and Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking WestLatin-speaking West

He ruled the East and He ruled the East and appointed a co-ruler appointed a co-ruler for the Westfor the West

He was in chargeHe was in charge Got sick, left officeGot sick, left office Civil war followedCivil war followed

Constantine took powerConstantine took power

Constantine Moves the Constantine Moves the CapitalCapital

Took control of the Western portionTook control of the Western portionContinued Diocletian’s reformsContinued Diocletian’s reforms324 A.D. took control of the Eastern 324 A.D. took control of the Eastern

portionportionMoved capital from Rome to ByzantiumMoved capital from Rome to ByzantiumRename Byzantium---CONSTANTINOPLERename Byzantium---CONSTANTINOPLEAfter his death, the East remained but After his death, the East remained but

the West was lost.the West was lost.

The Western Empire The Western Empire CrumblesCrumbles

3 main causes for the fall of the West3 main causes for the fall of the West

1. Internal problems1. Internal problems

2. Separation of the wealthy 2. Separation of the wealthy EastEast

3. Outside invasion3. Outside invasion

Germanic InvasionsGermanic Invasions

The HunsThe HunsCentral Asians who invaded Germanic Central Asians who invaded Germanic

areas on the borders of the Roman empireareas on the borders of the Roman empireDestroying everything in their pathDestroying everything in their path

Germanic peoples escaped by entering Germanic peoples escaped by entering RomeRome

Romans called all invaders Romans called all invaders “barbarians”“barbarians”

Western Rome could not fight them offWestern Rome could not fight them offOverrun in three daysOverrun in three days

Attila the HunAttila the Hun Soon the Huns Soon the Huns

themselves were a themselves were a direct threatdirect threat

Huns united for the Huns united for the first time under the first time under the leadership of ATTILAleadership of ATTILA 100,000 soldiers100,000 soldiers Terrorized both Terrorized both

halves of the empirehalves of the empire Famine and disease Famine and disease

stopped themstopped themBut Germanic But Germanic

invasions continuedinvasions continued

An Empire No MoreAn Empire No More Last Emperor of Rome: Last Emperor of Rome:

Romulus AugustulusRomulus Augustulus 14 years old14 years old Ousted by German Ousted by German

forces in 476forces in 476 Power gone in the Western Power gone in the Western

halfhalf Eastern portion took a new Eastern portion took a new

name: The Byzantine name: The Byzantine EmpireEmpire Survived and flourishedSurvived and flourished Preserved Greek and Preserved Greek and

Roman culture for Roman culture for another 1000 yearsanother 1000 years

Ruled ConstantinopleRuled Constantinople Lasted until 1453- fell to Lasted until 1453- fell to

the Ottoman Turksthe Ottoman Turks