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The Fall of Rome
For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman
Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world. Rome continued to expand
to include 3 continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Roman Empire Expansion
Emperor Septimus Serverus
193 – 211 CE
• Senate’s power no longer recognized
• Authority came from the military.
• Emperor of Rome became an absolute ruler;
dominus, or lord.
• Military generals became Emperors, tax
collectors, and administrators.
• The Empire established by Serverus continued
until 234AD
• Dark Years for the Empire.
A Difficult Period
• Foreign invaders….nibbling at the fringes of Rome..
• No structure in place to appoint a successor to Rome’s
throne.
• Result?
• Murder, chaos, civil wars. Armies and leaders fighting for
control.
A Difficult Period
• Countryside
• Chaotic and tenuous (weak)
• Armies not only fighting each other, also taking from
farms, villas and country estates to ensure their own
survival.
• Led to Economic decline in the Empire….
• Towns begin to isolate themselves…only trading
locally…afraid to market produce in goods in next city
…fear of being robbed or murdered by the soldiers
Decline in Trade
• Caused shortages and therefore inflation,
money (coins) has less value …putting less
silver and gold into them
• A near economic collapse in Roman
Empire
Scattered Framework of Cities
• Each pursuing their own economic, social
and political goals.
• The decline was faster in the western half of
the Empire.
• This caused the emperors to give support to
the eastern part of the Empire to try to save
al leas half, instead of losing the whole
Roman State.
Diocletian (284—305)
and the Division of the Roman Empire
Diocletian believed that going forward under the current system of Roman
Imperial government was unsustainable. He initiated a number of reforms to
prevent a return to the anarchy of previous generations and maintain the
viability of the Empire.
These included splitting
the Empire into two in
order to be more
manageable, creating a
new system of Imperial
succession to answer
the question of who
would be Emperor of the
newly divided East and
West, called the system
of "Tetrarchy", or "rule
of four", whereby a
senior emperor would
rule in the East and
West, and each would
have a junior emperor.
•Oppressive government, loss of
popular support
•Increased government corruption
•Division of empire – Too large to
control
•Internal power struggles – Lack of
organized system of succession
Political Causes
Constantine (306-337)
Constantine is famed for his rebuilding of Byzantium as
Constantinople (Constantine's City). Constantine is best
remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan in 313
and the Council of Nicaea in 325, which fully legalized and
legitimized Christianity in the Empire for the first time.
These actions are
considered major factors
in the spread of
Christianity and helped to
give him the title of the
"first Christian Emperor."
Economic Causes
•Increase in taxes to support
army and bureaucracy
•Reliance on slave labor
•Indenture of farmers to
wealthy landowners
•Unemployment
•Welfare system
Social Causes
•Population decline caused by
war and disease
•Decline in patriotism, discipline,
and devotion to duty
•Spread of Christianity
•Devotion of upper classes to
luxury and self-interest
•Bread and Circus (poor)
Military Causes
•Poorly trained armies
•Army deteriorates
•Little loyalty among hired
soldiers
•Threat of the Huns
•Series of Germanic
invasions beginning in 3rd
century
External Forces
Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed the Roman frontier and invaded
Greece, Italy, Spain, and coastal areas of Asia Minor.
The warmer climate, rich farmlands, and wealth of the Roman lands attracted the Germanic
tribes. By the 5th century, the Roman Empire was overrun by barbarians.
Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun was King of the
Huns (circa 433-53). He was one
of the most feared and notorious
barbarians of all time.
Sweeping west across the Rhine River into Gaul, Attila's forces fought
the Romans at the Battle of Châlons in 451 CE. Against all odds, the
Huns were defeated. Attila later died mysteriously, some say of a
massive nose bleed. Attila’s retreat across the Rhine was the last
victory achieved in the name of the Western Roman Empire.
Odoacer
Odoacer (435 – 493), was the half Hunnish, half Scirian chieftain of the
Germanic Heruli. He is best known to history as the man who deposed the
last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, in 476. As the first
“barbarian king” of Italy, 476 is traditionally considered the end of the
Western Roman Empire.
The Fall of Rome
Once the Roman army could no longer defend its borders, Germanic tribes began pouring
into Europe. One Roman province fell after another. In 476 A.D., the Western Roman
emperor was overthrown. Odoacer was then proclaimed king of Italy. The ancient world was
drawing to a close.
Causes of the Decline of Rome
•Increase in taxes to support
army and bureaucracy
•Poorly trained armies
•Division of empire
•Population decline caused
by war and disease
•Little loyalty among hired
soldiers
•Decline in patriotism,
discipline, and devotion to
duty
•Reliance on slave labor
•Oppressive
government, loss of
popular support
•Internal power struggles
•Series of Germanic
invasions
•Indenture of farmers to
wealthy landowners
•Devotion of upper
classes to luxury and
self-interest
•Increased government
corruption