Download Section III - Barrington 220

Section III: The Empire Declines
(Pages 138-143)
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This section is about:
Problems in Rome's
government and social
structure that weakened
the empire.
Fifty years of turmoil in the
Roman Empire.
Fifty years of order
restored by Diocletian and
Constantine.
Rome having more of the
same problems and finally
being overrun by invaders
in the fifth century.
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Let’s start by looking at
how all this ends – on
page 143 (top right).
It also asks the question:
How was the fall of the
Roman Empire linked to
economic problems within
the empire?
Does this have anything
to do with the U.S. today?
Leisure Time in Rome
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Most of the time in Rome,
there was a big difference in
the lives of rich and poor.
So… Rome provided free
entertainment.
Theaters: Comedies and
Dramas.
Chariot Races at Circus
Maximus.
Entertainment at the Coliseum
(women in the top rows /
slaves standing) – battles
between wild animals and
humans, or gladiators – all
usually ending in a death.
Rome's Colossally Cool
Colosseum
The Emperor Commodus was more interested
in entertainment than government.
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He liked to fight as a gladiator.
He ruled as a tyrant (like his
hero Hercules).
When the government was
short on money, he’d have
citizens murdered and take
their wealth.
It was a time of great inflation.
Rulers were becoming more
and more brutal and the army
was growing stronger.
When prices rise sharply and quickly
In 192 AD, Commodus was assassinated.
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There was a civil war, his
son (Septimius) got
power, and there was
peace for a while.
Septimius’ son Caracalla
did 2 big things: built
some beautiful baths, and
gave citizenship to almost
all free residents of the
empire.
Two more rulers take over
after him, but both were
weak (only 14 when they
took over).
In the next 50 years, there were 20 different rulers
(only 2 died a natural death)
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The army was so involved in who
new leaders were going to be, it
neglected to protect the Roman
Empire’s borders.
Gaul, the Goths, and Persians all
defeated the Romans in battles.
Because of all the wars and some
disease, populations declined.
The army was working harder to
defend Rome and wanted more
money.
So, the people were charged
higher taxes.
And, more inflation and less
trade/commerce/industry.
Rome was ready to collapse
(but… Diocletian came along)
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As emperor, he made 2 big
decisions right away (saved
Rome for 200 more years).
1. He divided the leadership of
the Roman Empire. He had a
co-emperor, and each had an
assistant (called a tetrarchy).
2. He split the empire into an
eastern and western half.
This tetrarchy was successful
(it helped that all 4 men were
good at their jobs).
Group of 4 people who are in charge
Diocletian also:
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Doubled the size of the army
(to half a million men).
He organized the provinces
into smaller territories.
He improved the tax rates.
He fixed prices for goods and
services.
Changed what he was called to
“dominus.”
Surrounded himself with great
ceremony.
And, in 305 AD, he abdicated.
Quit his position
areas of land – like a state
After Diocletian ”retired”
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You know what
happens – civil war
breaks out.
Two people fight for
control – Constantine
wins and becomes
sole emperor.
Constantine
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In the middle of one of his
biggest battles of that civil war,
Constantine had a vision.
He saw a Christian cross in the
sky with the words “In this sign
you will conquer.”
At that point, he became a
Christian – and soon gave the
freedom to worship to all
citizens of his empire.
Constantine became the first
Christian Emperor of Rome.
He also: re-united the two
halves of the Empire, founded a
new city (Constantinople),
which for the first time made
the capital of Rome on the
eastern half of their empire.
When Constantine died…
the Roman Empire began to fall apart
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Now that the empire was
growing weak, Germanic
tribes (from the north),
were starting to be
successful when they
attacked Roman troops.
Theodosius was the last
Roman emperor to rule
over the entire empire.
When he died, the
western half of the
Roman Empire fell apart.
In 410 AD (for the first time)
Rome fell to a foreign invader
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410:
429:
455:
460:
476:
The Visigoths (led by Alaric)
The Vandals (in northern Africa)
The Vandals (in Rome)
The Angles and Saxons (in England)
The Ostrogoth’s (Odoacer) forced
Rome to surrender
This is called “the Fall of the Roman Empire”
A Tour Through Ancient Rome
Horrible Histories: Gladiator School
Horrible Histories: Gladiator Blindfold
Horrible Histories: The Fall of the Roman Empire