Download The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

The Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire
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Chapter 5 section 5, 175 - 178
235-284 – 22 Roman rulers; person who had
control of the military
Also dealt with invasion from east and north
Invasions, civil war, and plague collapsed the
economy in 3rd century
-Trade & small industry fell
-Plague created labor shortage
-Farm production fell from invasions (foreign &
domestic)
-Military hired German mercenaries to fill
vacancies (did not understand traditions, had
little loyalty)
REFORMS OF DIOCLETION AND
CONSTANTINE
Diocletian (284-305) broke Rome into
4 units w/individual rulers; tried to set
wage & price controls
Constantine (306-337); built Byzantium Diocletian
(Constantinople, Istanbul)
Constantine
BOTH: increased bureaucracy
: enlarged army & civil service
(drained funds)
:forced jobs to be hereditary
After D&C, empire split into East & West
W – capital at Rome; attack by Germanic tribes
E – capital at Constantinople; attacked by Huns
Visigoths, Germanic tribe, fled Huns & allied
w/Rome; would
later defeat them
410- sacked Rome
455 – Vandals
sacked Spain,
Africa, then Rome
476 – last Roman
ruler deposed;
official fall
What caused the fall?
- Christianity’s emphasis on spiritual kingdom
weakened Roman military virtues
-traditional Roman values declined as non-Italians
gained prominence in empire
-lead poisoning through water pipes and cups
caused mental decline
-plague wiped out 1/10 of population
-failed to advance technologically b/c of slavery
-unable to put together a workable political system
Works Cited
http://teachers.saschina.org/rderozario/2010/01/19/the-fallof-rome-vocabulary/
http://theinquisitiveloon.blogspot.com/2011/07/unitedstates-and-lessons-of-rome-part.html
http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/11/20/284-diocletianaper-numerian-tetrarchy/
http://www.digitalapoptosis.com/archives/italy/001697.htm
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http://wilsonancientrome.wikispaces.com/Diocletian