Download Capable leadership declines after Marcus Aurelius (180 C

Name __________________________
Directions: For each reason for the end of the Roman Empire, determine whether you think it is Political,
Military, Economic, or Social in the box to the left. Then, complete the questions at the end.
Category Reason
Bad emperors after Marcus Aurelius (180 C.E.)
Creative energy of Rome was destroyed because the empire was so
unified (everyone doing the same thing)
Army made smaller to the point that it could not hold off Barbarian invasions
Christianity blamed for ruining the civic and moral spirit of Rome
Food shortages because of climate changes
Most land owned by a few rich people (patricians) after the Punic Wars (the
latifundia, when wealthy Romans seized smaller farms and formed large
farms under one owner)
Rome needed goods from its provinces (controlled lands) instead of being
self-sufficient
Rome did not produce anything to trade to other areas of the world
The cities declined because they were more concerned with controlling far
off lands than making goods
Civil wars, general instability and pirates after 180 C.E.
Government spent more money than it had leading to inflation
Wealthy Senators didn’t pay taxes
High taxes on the urban middle class
Mercenary armies not very loyal to Rome
Roman citizens avoiding military service
Bribery, corruption and too much bureaucracy (government)
Deaths because of warfare, famine, and disease
Use of slave labor led to revolts
Government capital moved from Rome to Constantinople
Widening gap between the rich patricians and poor plebians
© Students of History - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Students-Of-History
1. Which category has the most reasons in it?
2. What is the MOST important category? (Note: this may not be the one with the most reasons in it!)
EXPLAIN why you think so.
3. What is the LEAST important category? EXPLAIN why you think so.
4. What is the MOST important reason for the end of the (western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN why you
think so.
5. What is the LEAST important reason for the end of the (western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN why you
think so.
Name ____Answer Key______
Directions: For each reason for the end of the Roman Empire, determine whether you think it is Political,
Military, Economic, or Social in the box to the left. Then, complete the questions at the end.
Category Reason
Political
Bad emperors after Marcus Aurelius (180 C.E.)
Social
Creative energy of Rome was destroyed because the empire was so
unified (everyone doing the same thing)
Military
Army made smaller to the point that it could not hold off Barbarian invasions
Social
Christianity blamed for ruining the civic and moral spirit of Rome
Social
Food shortages because of climate changes
Economic
Most land owned by a few rich people (patricians) after the Punic Wars (the
latifundia, when wealthy Romans seized smaller farms and formed large
farms under one owner)
Economic
Rome needed goods from its provinces (controlled lands) instead of being
self-sufficient
Economic
Rome did not produce anything to trade to other areas of the world
Economic
The cities declined because they were more concerned with controlling far
off lands than making goods
Military
Civil wars, general instability and pirates after 180 C.E.
Political
Government spent more money than it had leading to inflation
Political
Wealthy Senators didn’t pay taxes
Economic
High taxes on the urban middle class
Military
Mercenary armies not very loyal to Rome
Social
Roman citizens avoiding military service
Political
Bribery, corruption and too much bureaucracy (government)
Military/Social
Deaths because of warfare, famine, and disease
Social
Use of slave labor led to revolts
Political
Government capital moved from Rome to Constantinople
Social
Widening gap between the rich patricians and poor plebians
© Students of History - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Students-Of-History
1. Which category has the most reasons in it?
The Social category has the most reasons for the fall of the Roman empire with 7, followed by
Political and Economic with 5. NOTE: Some students can label reasons in different ways and be able
to justify their reasoning.
2. What is the MOST important category? (Note: this may not be the one with the most reasons in it!)
EXPLAIN why you think so.
Answer is open to many possible opinions provided students support their answer with facts from
what they learned.
3. What is the LEAST important category? EXPLAIN why you think so.
Answer is open to many possible opinions provided students support their answer with facts from
what they learned.
4. What is the single MOST important reason for the end of the (western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN
why you think so.
Answer is open to many possible opinions provided students support their answer with facts from
what they learned.
5. What is the single LEAST important reason for the end of the (western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN
why you think so.
Answer is open to many possible opinions provided students support their answer with facts from
what they learned.