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The Fall of the Roman Empire. The Fall of the Empire happens in 3 parts. The Empire becomes weak. Two leaders return the Empire to power. The Western half of the Empire falls. 1. The Empire becomes weak. 180-300 AD Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus, rules.
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The Fall of the Roman Empire • The Fall of the Empire happens in 3 parts. • The Empire becomes weak. • Two leaders return the Empire to power. • The Western half of the Empire falls.
1. The Empire becomes weak • 180-300 AD • Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus, rules. • He was irresponsible, and made things worse. • Other Problems • Barbarians disrupting trade. • Far Eastern goods become popular. • Soil struggles to provide enough food. • Germanic Tribes (the Goths) keep attacking. • Political leaders become corrupt and weak.
2. Diocletian and Constantine • Diocletian rules from 284-305AD. • Doubled the size of the Roman Legions. • Persecuted the Christians to make Emperor stronger. • Divided the Empire into two halves, each with their own Emperor. • Eastern Half (Greek-speaking, big cities, trade) • Western Half (Latin-speaking, farming, poorer) • Diocletian took the Eastern half for himself.
Constantine • 311 AD, four rivals fight for power in Rome. • Constantine wins the western half in battle. • “In this sign, go conquer” • Later, he takes over the Eastern half as well. • Passed the Edict of Milan, persecution of the Christians stops. • Christianity becomes official religion of the Empire. • He moves the capital to Byzantium, which he renames Constantinopole. • Better trade, easier to protect, and Christian. • Both Empires are now Christian.
3. Barbarians overtake the Empire • Germanic Tribes who live in northern Europe, strike now that Rome is weak. • Also, the Huns from Russia are moving South. • First, the Goths move into Rome, trying to run from the Huns. They destroy the city. 410AD • Then the Huns move into Rome, destroying the Roman Empire. • Attila the Hun • The Huns attack Constantinople, but can’t get it. • 476AD, Last Roman Emperor overthrown by the Goths. • The Western Half is fallen, the Eastern half lives on.
