Decline and Fall

1. Decline and Fall

2. Political Instability • Rome has had its share of bad emperors. • Commodus------ son of Marcus Aurelius • He bankrupted the Roman treasury. • Imperial troops killed him and sold the position to the highest bidder. • This became very common in Rome. (192 A.D to 284 A.D) • Legions installed 28 emperors and killed most of them. • Legions were busy fighting each other for power.

3. Economic Decline • Warfare and invasion disrupted business in the Empire around Rome • Invaders destroyed productions centers in Gaul. • Food center were also lost causing food shortages. • To cope with the loss food and high prices the Roman government printed more coins. • Raised taxes. • Had to pay the army to keep it happy. • The Roman banks were already depleted, • Coins were worth less • Empire was suffering form severe inflation • The prices of good are more than people make or can afford.

4. Reforms that Failed • Emperor Diocletian 284 AD • Needed to hold back invasions • Raised the number of legions back to 60. • Built defenses around empire. • Divided the empire in two. • The Diocletian ruled the eastern Province • Gen. Maximian ruled the west province.

5. Reforms that Failed • Edit of Prices • Set prices on goods and stopped coining money. • People just bought stuff on the black market • This reform did not work. • The division of the empire will allow the Eastern province to last another 1,000 years. • Emperor Constantine • Moved the Eastern capital to the town of Byzantine. • Renamed Constantinople. • Area ideal for trade.

6. Got to Keep them Seperated • Emperor Theodosius • Western province still declined • Had the two provinces separate completely into Western and Eastern Empires. • Western Empire called Roman Empire • Eastern Empire called Byzantium.

7. Germanic Invasions • Started to invade for several reasons • Warmer climate • Better grazing lands • Gain in Rome’s wealth • Fleeing the HUNS.

8. Invasion!!!!! • Visigoths • 378 AD defeated the Romans at Adrianople in the east. • Killed the Roman emperor • They were given part of the Balkans. • Later went to Rome and sacked it. • The Huns • Lead by Attila • Raided the eastern empire and turned west. • A Roman Visigoth army defeated the Huns. • The Huns then raided Italy and its largest cities. • Attila died and the Huns retreated to Eastern Europe.

9. The END • Rome was continually raided • The Vandals, Franks, and Goths each came after the Huns. • The Franks and Goths divided Gaul. • A German solider Odoacer killed the emperor and held his son hostage. • Odoacer called himself king, a non-Roman was ruler. • Historians use this as the date when Rome ended 476 A.D. • -- Rome itself was gone but the Roman culture lived on.