Download Fall of the Roman Empire

Unit: Fall of the Roman Empire
Lesson Title:
Fall of the Western Roman Empire Part 2
The Roman Empire Divides
(See text page 31)
(Definition-- Capital: the key city and center of
government)
In Class Reading Activity
Read “Division of the Empire”on page 31.
Answer these questions:
1. Why did Diocletian decide to divide the empire?
2. Name two things Constantine accomplished as
Emperor.
Key Facts
Diocletian became Emperor of Rome in the
late A.D. 200s.
Diocletian believed the empire was too big to
govern, so he divided the empire into two
empires: East and West. He kept control of
the Eastern Empire—which later became
known as the Byzantine Empire.
Hey, we talked about this before…
Anyone remember the reasons why we
thought being too big could be a problem
for the Roman Empire?
The two empires created by Diocletian:
It was crowded !
It was dirty !
DIOCLETIAN was
unhappy with the
city of Rome
It was smelly !
Diocletian moved the capital from Rome to Nicomedia
Constantine
Emperor Constantine followed Diocletian
into power, and reunited the two empires
for a short time.
Constantine used the rapidly spreading
religion of Christianity to help unite the
Empire. Constantine became the first
Christian Roman Emperor.
Emperor Constantine put the Roman Empire back
together again under his rule.
Constantine moved the capital of the Empire from
Nicomedia to a nearby city called Byzantine. He
rebuilt the city, which became known as
Constantinople (Constantine’s City).
Constantinople’s location was perfect for trade with
Europe and Asia
Constantinople’s walls made it a powerful fortress for its
large population.
Constantinople and the Byzantine
(Eastern) Empire would prosper for a
long time….
but not Rome and the Western Empire!
Right Side Notebook Activity
You are a citizen of Rome around
the time of Diocletian and Constantine.
Create a billboard that argues whether it is better to
have one large empire or two smaller ones. Include
a statement and picture.
Two empires: smaller is better!