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The Decline of the Roman Empire The Empire’s Problems: Political Instability • The death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD brought an end to the Pax Romana –Between 192-284 army legions installed 28 emperors only to kill most of them off –Army’s were busier fighting each other than defending the empire’s borders Economic Decline • Political instability led to economic decline –Warfare disrupted trade and destroyed farmland causing food shortages that made food prices very high –Government printed more coins to make it easier to pay its soldiers, but by making more money (and the new money contained less precious metals) it caused inflation (rise in prices) Moral Decay • People lost their faith in Rome and in the family Unsuccessful Reforms • During the 200-300s Diocletian and Constantine tried to stop the empire’s decline –Reforms preserved the eastern empires government for over 1000 years, but was not as successful in the west Diocletian • Came to power in 284 • To hold back invasions he raised the number of legions in the army • He divided the empire into two regions—eastern and western because he realized the empire was too big for one person to have control • He issued the Edict of Prices which froze wages and set maximum prices on goods –His reforms were unsuccessful Constantine • In 330 AD Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to a Greek town called Byzantium, built a great capital and renamed the city Constantinople • Allowed Christianity (and all other religions) to be practiced in the Roman Empire Barbarian Invasions • Germanic tribes entered the Roman Empire for many reasons –Migration to warmer climates and better grazing land –Some wanted Rome’s wealth –Most came because they were fleeing the Huns, fierce nomadic invaders from central Asia • Each warrior group consisted of warriors, their families and a chief—the chief governed the group and led warriors into battle –Many bands unified only by language –Visogoths, one Germanic tribe, attacked Rome and captured the city, but retreated after their leader died –The Huns, a group of nomads from central Asia led by Attila, conquered much of Europe—eventually retreated after Attila died End of Western Empire • Rome ceased to have an emperor in 476