Download The Decline and Fall of Rome

The Decline and Fall of Rome
During the AD 200’s, while Christianity was spreading
through the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes began to
overrun the western half of the empire. Many
inhabitants in the area reported widespread devastation
and chaos. The Germanic tribes had always been a threat
to the empire. Why were they so much more successful
now?…
The Problems of the Empire
1) Political Instability
Commodus, Marcus Aurelius’ son, spent so much money
that he bankrupted the treasury.
In 192AD his own troops plotted to kill him.
Commodus was one of many poor leaders for Rome…
He was not the first, and he would not be the last…
Commodus though of himself as Heracles (Hercules)
reborn never lost a gladiatorial battle though…
From 192 AD to 284AD army legions installed 28
emperors… only to kill most of them off…
Legions often supported different people for emperor,
because of this the legions were often fighting each
other… too busy to fight off Germanic tribes like the
Goths, Alemanni, Franks, and the Saxons.
2) Economic
Decline
Political instability led to economic decline… warfare disrupted trade and
commerce.
By this time Rome was buying more goods than it was making… not good…
Items in small supple caused inflation.
Warfare also destroyed farmland,
causing food shortages.
As inflation rose, the landowners
were taxed, meaning less profit
for farmers who later would
abandon their lands.
Unsuccessful Reforms
1) Diocletian
284AD – Diocletian comes to power.
To hold back invasions he raised the number of
legions in the army, and spent time traveling the
empire to inspect them.
Realizing the empire was too big for one man to
govern, he split the empire into two; he was
coemperor of the eastern provinces, and General
Maximian was coemperor of the western provinces.
He also tried to slow inflation by issuing the “Edict of Prices” – he froze
wages and set maximum prices for goods. Under penalty of death though
citizens still sold goods in illegal trade.
He also required farmers who rented land never to leave, and all workers
to remain at their jobs for the rest of their lives.
2) Constantine
Takes over in 312AD…
He made it legal for landowners to chain workers to
keep them on the farm, and declared most jobs hereditary.
He moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium, and
names it Constantinople…
3) Theodosius I
Following Constantine’s death in 337AD the empire falls
into a civil war, of which the western half suffers…
At his death Theodosius wills that the empire be split
into two separate empires; in 395AD this division takes
place. The western was the Roman Empire, and the
eastern was the Byzantine Empire.
Barbarian Invasions
Germanic tribes start
migrating into the
Roman Empire during
the late 300’s AD seeking
warmer climates, better
grazing lands, and a share
of Rome’s wealth.
Most came because they
were
fleeing the Huns…
The Visigoths
During the late 300’s AD Germanic groups
extended their hold on Roman territory;
the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals,
Franks, Angles, and Saxons.
At first, in 378AD the Visigoths rebelled
against Rome and defeated a large Roman
army, killing the eastern Roman
emperor… Peace was made by giving land.
Then in 410AD, under Alaric, the Visigoths sacked Rome.
On his death they retreated back into Gaul (Spain).
The Huns
A nomadic group that came from central Asia led by Attila.
The Huns were such great fighters that in 451AD Rome
and the Visigoths joined forces against them.
Plague and famine took their toll on the Huns, and following Attila’s
death in 453AD they retreated to eastern Europe.
The Fall of Rome…
In 455AD the Vandals
sacked Rome
In 476AD a German
soldier named Odoacer
seized Rome and
named himself king
of Italy…
Rome had fallen…