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.