Download End of the Empire

The Disentegration of Rome’s Empire
From Commodus to Romulus Augustulus
180-476
The Julian-Claudian Dynasty: Poisoned; Stabbed; Poisoned; Suicide
Tiberius
r 14-37
Caligula
r 37-41
Claudius
r 41-54
Nero
r 54-68
Emperor Nerva
r 96-98
• He initiated the
adoptive system
to provide for
competent rulers
The Five Good Emperors:
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•
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Nerva, 96-98
Trajan, 98-117
Hadrian, 117-138
Antoninus Pius, 131-161
Marcus Aurelius, 161-180
The Empire at its height, c 250
Commodus r 180-192
• His rule was one of
debauchery, paranoia
and insanity
• Had Rome renamed as
colonia Commodiana
• Believed he was
Hercules reborn
• Most infamous act:
slaughtered physically
handicapped people
dressed up as mythical
enemies of the gods
The Crisis of the 3rd Century
Anarchy and Disorder:
• From 235-285, there were 26 Soldier Emperors,
25 of whom died violent deaths
• Referred to as “Barracks emperors” their
power was derived from the military which sold
itself to the highest bidder. [Thank you Marius!!!]
• Military mutinies, civil wars and exploitation of t
replaced protection of the borders.
Signs of trouble:
• Internal unrest – poor, slaves, Gaul, Egypt & Judea
• Largephysical empire- slow transportation and
communications
• Landed nobility squandered wealth
• Manual labor seen as degrading
• Little incentive for innovation -10 million slaves
• Govt kept grain prices low
• Erosion of independent farmers accelerated
• Overgrazing and Deforestation
• Tide of rationalism gave way to mystery religions
Two Emperors who tried to contain the awesome
forces of disintegration:
• Diocletian (285-305) and Constantine (306-337) Both
faced the problem of threats to the borders from
the Germanic tribes and from Persia.
• They also had to deal with the on-going, internal
economic crises that was eroding the high
standard of living which had characterized the
Pax Romana
Diocletian
(285-305)
• To insure production of
goods, farmers, artisans
and unskilled workers
had reside in their
present location, hold
their job for life and
pass it on to their
children
• Fixed prices on all
goods, grown or
manufactured
Diocletian, The Tetrarchy, 285-305
Constantine, 306-337
United the Empire under his rule
First emperor to embrace Christianity – Milvian Bridge conversion
In 324, Constantine moves East
The Germanic Tribes c. 362
Battle of Adrianople, 378
• Rome faced its worst defeat since the Battle of
Cannae (Hannibal)
• The Emperor Valens was captured and killed
The Goth cavalry was superior over the Roman
foot soldiers
• Significance: Rome could no longer secure its
borders against new tactics of warfare
Theodosius, 379-385 The last Emperor who could claim
to rule both East and West.
Upon his death, the empire was divided between his
two sons, Arcadius (East) and Honorius (West)
End of an Empire: 476
Romulus Augustulus, the
last Roman Emperor
was deposed by a
German chieftain named
Odovacer who claimed
the western crown for
himself.
Rome’s last gasps…
Theodoric the Great 489-526
After killing Odovacer ….an
Ostrogoth king ruled Italy from
Rome…Theodoric.
• His rule was enlightened,
peaceful and just- praised by
Romans & barbarians.
• Retained the Roman Senate,
civil service and schools. Old,
aristocratic families still held
high positions in the
government
The real end of Rome… Germanic leader named Totila
• By 544 Totila had
established control
of northern Italy at
Ravenna.
• In 546, his Gothic
army sacked Rome,
destroying baths,
sewers, aqueducts,
temples and
government
buildings.