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The Fall of the Roman Empire
In this lesson, students will identify factors
which led to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Students will be able to identify and/or
define the following terms:
Emperor Diocletian
Emperor Constantine
Barbarian Invaders
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The Romans had conquered a vast empire.
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Emperor Diocletian
• In 284 A.D., the Emperor Diocletian
divided the Roman empire into two parts:
an eastern section and a western section.
• Diocletian felt the Roman Empire was too
big for one person to effectively govern.
• Ruling such a vast empire was difficult.
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Emperor Diocletian
divided the Roman
empire into two
parts.
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Emperor Constantine
• In 306 A.D., the emperor Constantine
moved the capital of the Roman Empire
from Rome to Byzantium in Asia Minor.
• Constantine renamed his new capital
Constantinople.
• Constantinople had a good location for
trade.
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Emperor Constantine moved the capital
of the Roman Empire from Rome to
Constantinople.
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Can you find Constantinople on this map?
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Barbarians
• For hundreds of years, Germanic tribes
invaded the Roman Empire.
• The Romans called these Germanic
tribesmen Barbarians.
• The term “Barbarian” was ethnocentric
and insulting.
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The Roman army even built a wall
trying to prevent the Barbarians from
invading.
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The Huns and The Barbarians
• When the Huns (a central Asian tribe)
attacked the Germanic tribes, the
Germanic tribes were pushed into the
Roman Empire.
• At first, the Romans let the Visigoths (a
Barbarian tribe) move within their empire.
• However, the Visigoths had to promise not
to bring their weapons.
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However, the
Visigoths did
not keep their
promise.
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The Battle of Adrianople
• In 378 A.D. at the Battle of Adrianople, the
Roman army was defeated by the
Visigoths.
• It was the first time, Rome could not
defend itself.
• In 476 A.D., the western Roman empire
fell.
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Barbarian invaders, corrupt emperors,
and high taxes were just some of the
reasons for the fall of Rome.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Who was Diocletian and what did he do to
the Roman Empire?
• Where did Constantine move the capital
and why did he move the capital?
• Define Barbarians.
• Why is the Battle of Adrianople important?
• List three factors for the fall of Rome.
• When did Rome fall?
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