The Fall of the Roman Empire

1. The Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 6 Unit 4 Notes

2. The fall of the roman empire Main idea: • Empire building: internal problems and invasions spurred the division and decline of the roman empire Why now: • Decline and fall of great civilizations is a repeating pattern in world history Terms: • Inflation, mercenary, Diocletian, Constantinople and Attila

3. The Fall of The Roman Empire Setting the Stage: • 3rd century AD Rome had many problems (external and internal) • Drastic economic, military, and political reforms couldn’t hold off the collapse

4. A Century In Crisis • Death of Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) ended the Pax Romana • Future rulers lack of experience leads to more problems and decline

5. A Century In Crisis Rome’s Economy Weakens • Factors of weakening economy: • Hostile tribes/pirates disrupted trade • Lack of new sources of gold/silver • Raised taxes for more revenue • Made more money with less silver • INFLATION: drop in value of $$ and rise in prices

6. A Century In Crisis • Factors of agricultural decline: • Harvest meager (over worked land) • War destroyed lands • Food shortage = starvation and disease = drop in population

7. A Century in Crisis Military and Political Turmoil • Military issues: • Less discipline and loyalty • Allegiance to commander NOT Rome • Recruited mercenaries (hired soldiers) to protect gov’t • Loss in patriotism

8. Emperors Attempt Reform • Empire stayed intact for 200 more years • Reform minded Emperors • Division of Empire Diocletian Reforms the Empire: • Ruled in 284 AD • Limited freedoms • Restored order and increased strength • Claimed to be a descendent of the Gods

9. Emperors Attempt Reform Diocletian con’t… • Believed empire was too large so divided it in 2: • East: Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt • West: Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain • Diocletian took the east and gave the west to a co-ruler • Diocletian maintained overall control • East became center of trade and wealth • Diocletian was ill, civil war broke out and Constantine took over

10. Emperors Attempt Reform Constantine Moves the Capital • Gained control of west in AD 312 and 12 years later gained control of east • AD 330 moved capital to Byzantium on the Bosporus Strait (connected E + W) • Center of power shifted to east • Called Constantinople (City of Constantine) • Constantine died, Empire divides again: • W = Fall and E = survive

11. The Western Empire Crumbles • Decline took many years: • Internal conflicts • Outside invasions Germanic Invasions • Northern border had co-existed • 370 Huns moved into the area and destroyed all in path • Germanics pushed into Rome to avoid Huns • Barbarians = non Romans • Lack of Army = German plunder Rome

12. The Western Empire Crumbles Attila the Hun • Indirectly responsible for German invasion of Rome • Huns destroyed 70 cities in the east (but Constantinople) • 452 arrive in Rome • Rome weak from disease and famine

13. The Western Empire Crumbles • Last emperor Romulus Augustus (14) • Ousted by Germans in 476 • Eastern half = Byzantium • Flourished for next 1000 years • Emperors saw themselves as heirs to Augustus Caesar

14. Multiple Causes of the Fall of Rome Contributing Factors Immediate Causes = Germanic Tribes and Huns