The fall of Rome

1. The fall of Rome • Events and conditions inside and outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse • Essential Question: What led to the weakening and eventual collapse of the Roman Empire in the west?

2. The fall of Rome • Empire Weakens • When the Pax Romana ended in 180 CE the Roman Empire began to weaken as it faced challenges from both inside and outside the empire • Roman Army could not stop the Hun invasion. Rome faced threats from the east and west • No strong emperors, many civil wars occur as military dictators depose each other for power • 20 emperors between 235-284 all but one died violently

3. The Fall of rome • Economic Troubles • Empire’s instability led to robberies • Cost of the military raised= taxes raised • New money coined with less silver to help with economic trouble but it worsened it because no one would accept the coins • Economic crisis – increased costs for military led to decreased prosperity, increased taxes, decreased trade, new money coined causing value of money to decrease and prices to rise - inflation

4. The fall of Rome • The crisis of the 200’s let to attempts at reform • Diocletian – successful reformer - becomes emperor in 284 CE • Changes empire government structure to an absolute monarchy • Split the empire into two (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire) • Co-emperor in the West, both had advisors who were Caesars • Regulated all aspects of Roman life (sons followed the trades and social positions of their fathers, peasants were permanently tied to the land they farmed) • Increased size and budget for military • Switched economy to military production • Introduced new tax system

5. The Fall of Rome • Constantine • In 305 Diocletain abdicated the throne with his co-emperor so their Caesars could rise as emperors. Soon civil war broke out • Order was not restored until 312 when Constantine was proclaimed the new emperor by his troops

6. The fall of Rome Constantine continued policies enacted under Diocletian – became emperor in 312 CE • State control over society • Converted to Christianity and legalized the practice of the religion in 313 CE in the Edict of Milan • Built a new capital in Eastern Roman Empire – Constantinople • Because the east was richer and better protected than the west. • Reforms enacted under Diocletian and Constantine only slowed the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire

7. The fall of Rome • Invasion and Fall of Rome • TURN TO PAGE 191-Read aloud Invasion and Fall of Rome • Increasing shifts of population from Asia into Europe pushed tribes into Roman Empire • Under direction from the Huns, Germanic tribes, the Ostrogoths and Visigoths attacked the Roman Empire and Alaric, the Visigoth King sacked Rome • The Vandals tribe attacked Rome • Attila, a strong leader for the Huns, attacked Gaul and tried to attack Rome, but was convinced not to by Pope Leo I

8. The fall of Rome • The Western Roman Empire falls in 476 CE after an attack led by the barbarian commander Odoacer • The Eastern Roman Empire does not collapse, but over time evolves into the Byzantine Empire due to influences from other cultures, especially Greek Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome • Causes • Weak leadership after 180 CE *Invasions • Economic Crises *Social Unrest and Insecurity Effects *In the west, the disappearance of central authority and the creation of small kingdoms *In the east, the continuation of the Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople