Download The Long Decline

Vocabulary
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Diocletian
Constantine
Huns
Visigoths
Attila
Inflation
mercenary
The Long Decline
Foreign invasions, along with political,
social, and economic problems, led to
the fall of the Roman Empire.
The Slow Decay
• The Roman Empire did not suddenly collapse
– It was a decay that took centuries
• In the late 200’s, Empire was divided into two
parts
– Each ruled by a co-emperor
• Complex problems led to the decline and fall
of the Western Roman Empire.
Crisis and Reforms
• Marcus Aurelius died in
180 A.D.
– Marking the end of the Pax
Romana
• For the next 100 years,
political and economic
turmoil rocked the Roman
World.
Marcus Aurelius
Struggles for Power
• Emperors were
overthrown repeatedly
– In one 50 year period –
26 emperors reigned
• Political instability and
violence ruled
– Rather than order and
efficiency
Economic and Social Problems
• High taxes to support military and
bureaucracy
– Heavy burden on businesses and farmers
• Farmland over-cultivated
• Famers moved onto large estates as workers
– Not allowed to leave the land
Emperor Diocletian
• 284 B.C., Diocletian
divided the Empire into
two parts
– Keeping the wealthier
Eastern portion for himself
– Appointed a co-emperor to
rule the western half
• Answerable to Diocletian
– Diocletian retained
absolute power
Diocletian
• Increased prestige of
Emperor
– Wore purple robes
embroidered with
gold
– Crowns encrusted
with jewels
– Approach the throne
– you had to kiss his
robe
Economic Decay
• To slow inflation
– Fixed prices for goods and services
• Forced farmers to remain on their land
• Sons were required to follow their father’s
occupation
– To ensure a steady production of goods and food.
Emperor Constantine
• 312 A.D. – took the throne
– Continued Diocletian’s reforms
• Changed European history
– Granted toleration to Christians
– Guaranteed success of Christianity
• Built a new capital – Constantinople
– On the Bosporus – strait between the Black and
Mediterranean Seas
Constantine
• He made the Eastern
Roman empire the center of
power
• Eastern Empire had more
people
• Prospered for centuries
after the fall of the Western
Roman Empire.
Mixed Results
• Reforms revived the economy and increased
power of the government
– Held empire together for another century
• Long-term decline continued
Foreign Invasion
• Rome had always faced
invasion
– Legions had always held off
attackers
• Germanic tribes along the
borders allied with Rome
and learned Roman culture
Germanic Tribes
Impact of the Huns
• Huns – nomadic tribe from East Asia
– Fierce fighters who dislodged the Germanic
peoples
• Visigoth, Ostrogoth, and other Germanic
people crossed into Roman territory for safety.
• With Empire in decline – Roman legions could
not stop the advance.
• Surrendered : Britain, Spain and France
Rome Defeated
• 378 B.C.- Rome is defeated by
Visigoths
– By 410 B.C. – Rome is plundered
• Gradually more Germanic tribes
occupy the Western Empire
• 434 B.C. – Attila the Hun led
campaign across Europe
– “scourge of God” by Christians as
punishment for sin.
Rome Defeated
• 476 B.C. – Germanic leader ousted the Roman
Emperor
– Date seen as the “fall” of Rome
– Roman power in the west had ended before that.
Causes of the Fall of Rome
• Rome ‘fell’ because of several causes:
– Military
– Political
– Economic
– Social
• This was a major turning point in Western
Civilization.
Military Causes
• Germanic Invasions
– Legions lacked the proper training of past Roman
armies.
• Rome hired mercenaries – paid soldiers
– Felt little loyalty to Rome
Political Causes
• Government became oppressive and
authoritarian
– Lost support of the people
• Corruption was rampant
• Constant battling by rival armies to have their
commander named emperor
• Dividing the empire when it was under attack
– Weakened it beyond repair
– Richer Eastern Empire did little to help west
Economic Causes
• Heavy taxes to support military and
bureaucracy
• Reliance on slave labor discouraged
innovation
• Farmers abandoned their land
• Middle class sank into poverty
• Population decline because of war and
diseases.
Social Causes
• Decline of the Romans values
– Patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty
• Upper class no longer provided leadership
– Devoted themselves to self-indulgence
• “bread and circuses”
– Costly to the government
– Made people reliant on the government instead of
being self-reliant
Did Rome Fall?
• The city of Rome ‘fell’ in 476 A.D.
• The Roman Empire continued in part for
another 1,000 years
– Byzantine Empire
• People of the Western Roman Empire
– Continued to live as they had – just under new
rulers
• Christian Church preserved elements of
Roman civilization.
Essay Question for Classical Era Test
• Discuss the fall of the Roman Empire.
• 25% of test grade
• Essay format
– Minimum six paragraphs
• Open
• Four causes
• Closing
• Homework – complete an outline for your test
essay!