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The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire. Vocabulary Words. Inflation Mercenary Diocletian Constantinople Attila. A Century of Crisis. End of the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius marked the end of Pax Romana

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

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  1. The Fall of the Roman Empire

  2. Vocabulary Words • Inflation • Mercenary • Diocletian • Constantinople • Attila

  3. A Century of Crisis • End of the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius marked the end of PaxRomana • Rulers that followed had little to no idea how to handle the giant empire and its growing problems • Rome began to decline as a result

  4. Rome’s Economy Weakens • Hostile tribes outside the empire disrupt trade • The empire had reached its limit on expansion, so they lacked new sources of gold and silver • Government raises taxes desperate for revenue • Economy suffered from inflation (drop in value of money coupled with a rise in prices)

  5. Rome’s Economy Weakens • Agriculture faces serious problems • Overworked soil leads to weaker harvests • Years of war had destroyed much farmland • This led to food shortages and the spreading of disease • Which caused the population to decline

  6. Military and Political Turmoil • Roman soldiers had become less disciplined and loyal • Gave their allegiance to their commanders, not Rome • Government began recruiting mercenariesto combat threats against the empire • They fought for money • Cheaper than a Roman soldier, but less loyalty

  7. Military and Political Turmoil • Loyalty weakens among average citizens • In the past Romans cared deeply about the republic • Now conditions have caused the Roman people to lose their sense of patriotism • They became indifferent to the empires fate

  8. Emperors Attempt Reform • Rome survives this turmoil for another 200 years • This was do to reform-minded emperors and the empires division into two parts

  9. Diocletian Reforms the Empire • Diocletiana strong willed army leader becomes emperorin 284 CE • Rules with an iron fist, severely limiting personal freedoms • He restores order and increased the empires strength • He doubles the size of the Roman army • Set fixed prices for goods to combat inflation

  10. Diocletian Reforms the Empire • In order to restore prestige to the office of the emperor, he claimed descent from the ancient Roman gods and created elaborate ceremonies to present himself in a godlike aura • Believed that the empire had grown too large and too complex for one ruler

  11. Diocletian Reforms the Empire • He divides the empire into Greek speaking East (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt) and Latin speaking West (Italy, Gaul, Britain, and Spain) • He took control of the east and appointed a co-ruler for the west • Eastern half contains most of the empires great cities and trade centers, it is far wealthier than the west • He shared authority but kept overall control

  12. Constantine Moves the Capital • Diocletian retires in 305 CE due to ill health • Civil war breaks out for his replacement • Constantine gains control of the western part of the empire in 312 CE and continued many of the social and economic policies of Diocletian • He secures control of the East in 324 CE and restores the single ruler concept

  13. Constantine Moves the Capital • In 330 CE he moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium • Located on the Bosporus Strait, strategically located for trade and defense purposes on a crossroads between West and East • Building modeled after those in Rome are built and it is protected by massive walls • City is renamed Constantinople

  14. The Western Empire Crumbles • After Constantine’s death the empire again is divided • The western empire will fall due to internal problems, its separation from the eastern empire, and outside invastions

  15. Germanic Invasions • Traditionally relative peace existed between the Northern Germanic tribes and Rome • Changed around 370 CE after a fierce group of nomads called the Huns moved into the region from central Asia • The Huns began to destroy all in their path • Germanic people in an effort to flee from the Huns entered into Roman lands

  16. Germanic Invasions • Romans called all invaders “barbarians” • They moved through the provinces of Gaul, Spain, and North Africa • The Western Empire was unable to field an army to stop them • In 410 CE they overran Rome it self and plundered it for 3 days

  17. Attila the Hun • The Huns united in 444 CE under a powerful chieftain named Attila • Terrorized both sides of the empire with 100,000 soldiers • They attacked and plundered many cities, although they never to take Constantinople and Rome • No longer a threat after Attila’s death in 453 CE

  18. An Empire No More • The last Roman emperor a 14 year old named Romulus Augustulus was ousted by German forces in 476 CE • After that no emperor even pretended to rule Rome and the western empire • Roman power in the west had dissapeared

  19. An Empire No More • Eastern half of the empire becomes the Byzantine Empire • It flourishes for another 1,000 years and preserves the Greek and Roman culture and heritage • Byzantine emperors ruled from Constantinople and saw themselves as heirs to the power of Augustus Caesar • The empire endured until 1453 CE when it fell to the Ottoman Turks

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