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Name: ____________________
INDICTMENT OF ROMAN EMPERORS
Charges:
Your ineffective leadership caused the collapse of the Roman Empire.
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Some of you lost interest in being good rulers and instead pursued self interest
Some made poor decisions that led to the Empire’s collapse
Having an emperor made procedures and confidence less stable
In the 500 years Rome was empire, some of the emperors were good, some were bad, and some were
plain crazy. Rome never solved the problem of how to peacefully transfer political power to a new leader.
When an emperor died, ambitious rivals with independent armies often fought each other for the emperor’s
crown.
Even when the transfer of power happened without fighting, there was no good system for choosing the
next emperor. Often the Praetorian Guard, the emperor’s private army, chose the new ruler. But they
frequently chose leaders who would reward them rather than those who were best prepared to be emperor.
Notorious emperors like Nero and Caligula wasted large amounts of money, spreading corruption and
causing a decline in citizenship. A rise in crime made the emperor’s cities and roads unsafe. Unemployment
was also a serious problem for many people. Small farmers could not compete with the large landowners.
They fled to the cities looking for work, but there were not enough jobs for everyone.
Instead of fixing these problems, the emperors tended to focus on improving their own extravagant
lifestyle and persecuting Christians, a new powerful religious group who challenged government beliefs and
corruption. Diocletian tried to save the empire by splitting it into two, but this move was the final straw. With
a new focus on the eastern half of the empire, the west was left to collapse. Your ineffective leadership is to
blame for the fall of the Roman Empire, the greatest civilization of its time.
Answer these GQs:
1. If an emperor died, how was the next leader usually chosen?
___There was no official system for choosing the next emperor. Rule often passed
to whomever was named by the previous emperor or to whomever could take the
throne by force. Sometimes, the Praetorian Guard would kill a bad emperor and
install someone of their choice.
2. How could this method of choosing new emperors hurt Rome? How could it help it?
Rome’s citizens no longer had a say in choosing their leader. This could result in
the rule of selfish individuals who were more concerned with personal glory and
wealth rather than the well-being of Rome. However, this system could result in the
speedy death (read, murder) of emperors who were notoriously bad.
3. Name at least three ways the emperors were considered ineffective and may have caused the decline of the
Roman Empire.
Nero – Fiddled while Rome Burned
Caligula – made horse a consul and spent Roman money on building a house for it
Commodus – Spent time fighting as a gladiator and having parties rather than ruling
Rome
Economy – emperors tried to fix economy by putting less gold in coins
Civil wars – powerful politicians and generals constantly fought each other to
become emperor, which created instability
Use your book and other sources to find out specifically how/why the emperors are guilty – Record details about each of
the following emperors and describe how their decisions HURT the empire:
Caligula (pg. 288); Nero (pg. 288); Commodus (pg. 218):
Facts/details/actions
How this emperor HURT Rome
Caligula:
Caligula:
Nero:
Nero:
Commodus:
Commodus:
Diocletian (pg. 320):
Facts/details/actions
General who gained power in 284.
-Divided empire into 4 parts (like the U.S. is divided into
50 states for easier administration)
-Set prices of goods to stop inflation
-ordered workers to stay in same job until they died
Constantine (pg. 320):
Facts/details/actions
General who gained the throne after a period of conflict in
312.
-Sons must work in jobs of their fathers
-Moved capital of Roman Empire from the city of Rome to
Asia Minor, and called the city “Constantinople”
-Made Christianity the Official religion of the Empire
-Built Hippodrome and palaces in East
Theodosius (pg. 322):
Facts/details/actions
How this emperor HURT Rome
-Governors gained power and fought each other and/or
ignored central rules
-could not enforce economic reforms
How this emperor HURT Rome
-Economic reforms did not help western Empire
-Less focus on Rome itself
-Although tolerant of all religions, Constantine promoted a
religion that most Romans disagreed with (and many
persecuted). This caused cultural divisions
How this emperor HURT Rome
Gained the throne after period of fighting. Had the Empire
split into Eastern and Western Empires at the time of his
death.
-Split the empire AFTER he died, so he didn’t oversee the
administration of the separate empires. Rome is now
divided into two empires, which both call themselves
Roman, but are culturally different and do not have great
allegiance to each other. For that reason, neither side would
do all it could to help the other.
Name: ____________________
INDICTMENT Of BarbarianS
Charges:
Your attacks on Roman borders and invasions of the city ruined the Empire.
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The Ostrogoths seized, and lived in, Roman land without permission
The Visigoths did the same, but even invaded Rome!
The Vandals vandalized the city! – so badly that it started a new phrase…
In the 200s C.E., several Germanic tribes like the Gauls, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, and Franks
started gaining power and made it increasingly difficult to defend Rome’s borders. Your tribes were
“uncivilized,” living in small groups, wearing animal fur, and constantly fighting amongst themselves.
Barbarian literally means “foreigner” or “non-Greek speaker.” You’re considered filthy, violent, and
coldblooded; the Romans definitely feared you.
While the barbarians originally made peace with Rome, your lifestyle focused on war and the constant
need to seek more power and land. Even when they joined the Roman army, they were not entirely loyal and
weakened their military unit’s effectiveness.
In an attempt to gain control, Rome tried to charge higher taxes on the barbarians, but the tribes rebelled
and attacked. Over the course of two hundred years, Roman generals were forced to constantly defend the
empire’s borders. Defenses could only hold for so long. In one battle, two thirds of the Roman army was
destroyed and the tribes made their way to Rome.
You were ruthless, murdering innocent civilians (non-fighting men) and kidnapping women and
children. You plundered Rome, taking gold and jewels first, and then helped themselves to fine furniture and
works of art. For six days you sacked (destroyed) the city. By the time you left, the streets were littered with
bodies and the empire never recovered. When Rome fell, it was broken up into numerous barbarian-led tribal
kingdoms and a dark period (a lack of inventions, ideas, and peace) fell across Europe for the next thousand
years. Your constant invasions brought about the fall of Rome and the Dark Ages.
1. Who were the barbarians? __
Nomadic, Germanic tribes that lived in northeastern Europe. They included Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Huns,
Angles, and Saxons.
2. Name two ways why the barbarians could be responsible for ending the Roman Empire.
Rebelling against Roman rule in territories they were allowed to settle in
Attacking Rome itself
3. Why would constant attacks on Rome’s borders be a major problem?
 Citizens on high alert
 Destruction of property
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Roman military spread too thin to defend
Roman soldiers dying – must recruit more and pay more money
Loss of “We’re Romans, we’re the best” feeling
Use your book and other sources to find out specifically how/why the Barbarians are guilty – answer the guiding
questions below:
1. List 3 reasons why Barbarian tribes would encroach (move without permission) into Roman lands:
A. ___ In search of warmer climates
B. ___ In search of better grazing land for their cattle – remember, they’re nomads
C. ___ Drawn to Roman culture – aqueducts, circuses, architecture, etc.
D. ___ Attila the Hun conquered most of Asia, pushing the barbarians east. He was actually scarier than the
Romans. Look him up.
2. Name two causes and two effects of the Visigoth Rebellion of 378 CE:
Cause: ___Romans raised taxes and forced Vis. to pay higher prices for food
Cause: ___Romans kidnapped and enslaved many Visigoths
Effect: ___Other tribes saw that Rome actually could be defeated
Effect: ___Rome was forced to surrender land, so more and more barbarians came to settle in Rome’s territory
3. Who was Alaric and how did he hurt Rome?
_ Alaric was a Visigoth leader who invaded and captured Rome itself in 410 CE. His men burned records (paper
documents, not song recordings…), looted the treasury (stole money and gold from banks), and caused widespread
destruction. Alaric forced Rome to pay his tribe lots of money and supplies but once that was done finally left.
4. How and when did the Vandals get into Rome? What did they do to Rome?
__ The Vandals moved through Gaul, Spain, and Africa, eventually invading Rome through Sicily in 455 CE. For
12 days, they killed, looted, and burned property and people. There was no word, “vandalism”, until this happened.
5. Why is 476 CE generally considered the official fall of the Roman Empire (remember your answer must relate to
the guilt of the Barbarians)
__ Because Romans used auxiliary troops, there were many barbarians in high ranks in the Roman army. One of
these generals, named Odoacer, used his power to overthrow the 14-year-old emperor of Rome, Romulus Augustulus.
Because Odoacer was the first non-Roman emperor of Rome, 476 CE is generally considered the end of the [Western]
Roman Empire.
Name: ____________________
INDICTMENT Of the Roman Army
Charges:
Your constant need to expand the empire caused more problems than it solved.
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Your wars caused the deaths of many Roman men and made many new enemies
It cost a fortune to pay for these wars, which caused problems at home
Your generals fought each other for power, and didn’t even protect the city!
From the beginning to its fall in 476 CE, Rome had four periods of expansion. When Rome was only a
small city-state, your soldiers conquered the Etruscans and gained control of all of Italy. During the second
period of expansion, Rome fought three savage wars against Carthage, a city-state in Northern Africa. While
Rome was eventually victorious against Hannibal and his army, families mourned for the countless soldiers who
had died in the long wars. In addition, people living outside of Rome suffered huge losses; Hannibal’s army
had destroyed thousands of farms and many soldiers returned home to find nothing waiting for them.
As newly conquered people entered the empire, they were not given the same rights as Roman citizens
and many became slaves. Romans treated slaves very harshly and many revolts occurred, killing thousands.
Incoming slaves also took jobs away from thousands of farmers and laborers.
Your army’s generals (like Julius Caesar) also used their victories to gain fame in far-off lands and fight
for power in Rome. In one civil war, over 200,000 Romans were killed. Eventually the Republic ended and the
empire began with Augustus’s rule. Though the Pax Romana, a 200 year period of peace, occurred after his
rule, Rome’s large borders constantly needed to be defended. The empire could not afford to send soldiers to
all the places it needed to defend and kept raising taxes to pay for this constant expansion and defense.
Rome had basically become “too big for its britches.” The empire became too large too fast and was
unable to provide for its citizens and protect its territories. Constant expansion led to brutal wars, troubles
between citizens and non-citizens, and massive debts. These issues weakened the empire until it was no longer
able to guard itself against barbarian attacks. The Roman army’s greed for more power and land eventually led
to the empire’s collapse.
1. Why would the Rome want to expand its boundaries? ___
 Influence – Generals gained fame by conquering new places, and Rome gained glory
 Resources – natural materials, crops, food, stolen money, slaves – these enrich the empire.
Unfortunately most of these were seized by high ranking army officers and politicians and not
distributed to the middle and lower classes.
2. How did war cause non-citizens and citizens to have problems with one another? How would this issue cause
problems for the Roman government?
___ People conquered by Rome were obviously annoyed. Although Romans built roads and aqueducts, the practice of
granting citizenship to conquered peoples eventually ceased. Conquered peoples therefore had to pay high tax but had no
representation in Roman government. They also had to contribute auxiliary troops to Rome. The slaves brought back in
the many wars Rome fought continued to be used on Latifundia instead of the Plebeians.
3. Name at least three ways Rome’s expansion helped bring about its fall. Should Rome have kept expanding
its empire? Why/Why not?
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Too much land to govern effectively
Too much land to defend
Overuse of slaves caused economic problems
Use of auxiliary troops made Romes army less reliable
 Conquered land and money went to the wealthiest people while poor people
got poorer
1. Name three new areas that Rome expanded into AFTER the reign of Augustus (14CE)
Britain, North Africa, Europe up to Rhine and Danube Rivers, Asia up to Mesopotamia
2. Although this expansion brought new land and money to the empire, there were many challenges that came with it.
Give one NEGATIVE EFFECT for each of these details about the Empire’s expansion:
A. New lands, more people conquered: Rome gains more enemies
B. More slaves brought back: More Plebs lose their jobs and must join military
C. More soldiers in army, more supplies needed: Generals promise $ to soldiers, but need more $ to pay for them
D. Poor join army not for Rome, but for money: Rome’s soldiers are less reliable, as they did not join the army for
Rome but rather for money
E. Generals become popular/powerful: Rome’s soldiers pledge allegiance to their general rather that to Rome itself
F. More auxiliary troops than Roman citizens in Roman army: Rome’s soldiers may secretly hate Rome and could
potentially plot a rebellion against Rome
3. After the rule of the Severan emperors, how did the Roman military cause instability in the Empire?
_ Army leaders fought against each other for power, and 22 different men took power in a period of only 50
years
4. Name three specific examples where the Roman army failed to protect Rome (against barbarians or even itself…)
Visigoth Rebellion, Alaric’s invasion, Vandal invasion, Odoacer’s takeover, Roman soldiers take and/or
destroy Roman people’s crops, army leaders fight each other to take the throne
Name: ____________________
INDICTMENT Of Christians
Charges:
Your religious beliefs and growing population questioned the emperors’
authority and divided the Roman people, causing the empire to lose power and collapse.
At its height, the Roman Empire included many races, languages, and religious beliefs. There were many
beliefs that flourished and gained followers, but none had as much influence and followers as Christianity.
Christianity promised something that other belief systems of the time did not: a chance of forgiveness and eternal life.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was not only a religious prophet, but the son of God.
At first, Rome was not unfriendly to Christians. What was another god, among so many? But you
Christians refused to worship the other Roman gods. Worse, you would not admit that the emperor was a god. Your
way of life seemed to be an insult to Roman customs. Instead of wealth and luxury, you preferred living simply.
Recalling Jesus’ message of peace and love, many of you refused to serve in the army.
As the number of Christians grew, the empire became divided. Romans saw you as a threat to Roman order
and patriotism. Eventually your religion was declared illegal and Christians were sentenced to die in cruel and
painful ways for refusing to honor the Roman gods. Yet these punishments failed to destroy the new religion since
Christianity gained new followers with its belief that even the poor and slaves could look forward to a better life
after death if they followed the ways of Christ. This growing power made the emperors seem weak and further
caused division amongst believers and non-believers.
Eventually, the Emperor Constantine embraced the church and gave Christians the freedom to practice their
religion openly and by 395, it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. As the empire was occupied with
wars and political matters, the Church became more and more powerful and many valued its opinion over the empire.
The Church had become more powerful than the state (government), and the empire was unable to re-establish its
control and unify its people. Your religion’s challenge of authority and division of believers and non-believers
helped bring about the fall of Rome.
1. How did Christian values differ from Roman values?
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2. Why was Christianity able to survive despite the empire’s attempts to kill all Christians?
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3. Why would a civilization have trouble if its citizens are divided? (Ex’s: Rome’s Christians and nonChristians or our own “Red” States and “Blue” States).
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4. How would allegiance (loyalty) to the Church instead of the empire help bring about Rome’s collapse?
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5. Search your book for examples of how different emperors reacted to, or treated, Christianity
A. Emperor: ________________________
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B. Emperor: ________________________
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C. Emperor: ________________________
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