Fall of Rome

1. Fall of Rome

2. Four major reasons • Political issues • Social problems • Economic trouble • Military issues

3. Political issues • Since the end of PaxRomana, Rome had years of civil war – why? • No authority for emperor • Unqualified emperors • Empire will get divided into Eastern Roman Empire, Western Roman Empire • Capital moved to Byzantium Why would dividing empire be such a big problem?

4. Economic trouble • Rome farm-based, but poor harvests • Land had been overworked • Trade not great – trade routes disrupted by foreign armies • High taxes – government desperate for money to pay armies • Inflation – value of money drops • What does this mean? • How could these help lead to the fall of Rome?

5. Social problems • Nobody proud to be Roman anymore • Years of lousy rulers, not a whole lot of good things led to people not caring about Rome like they used to • Huge gap between rich and poor • Top 1% of population had 50% of the money • Less people living in Rome – disease, famine • Christianity – people more devoted to religion than to Rome • Money to church, not to Empire • How could this lead to fall of Rome?

6. Military issues • Not enough soldiers • Rome had to use mercenaries – foreign soldiers paid to fight for Rome • What’s the problem with this? • Tribes north of Rome began invading • Enemies made technological advances • Iron stirrup – allowed people to ride horseback while wearing armor • How could this lead to the fall of Rome?

7. Battle of Adrianople – 378 CE Germanic Cavalry Germanic Cavalry Germanic Tribes and Families Roman Army Roman Army

9. Why is the fall of Rome a big deal? • Controlled most of Europe for centuries • People of Europe don’t have anyone to defend them, build their roads, provide laws • Rome a united empire, not city-states – why does this matter? • Eastern Roman Empire will stay, Western Rome falls in 476 CE • Eastern Roman Empire  Byzantine Empire