Download End of the Empire

The Decline of Rome’s Empire
The Empire at its height, c 250
Emperor Nerva
r 96-98
• He initiated the
adoptive system
to provide for
competent rulers
Marcus Aurelius
r 161-180
• He broke the
adoptive
pattern of
succession by
naming his son,
Commodus as
his heir and
next emperor
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.
• Military mutinies and civil wars replaced
protection of the borders.
Two Emperors who tried to contain the
awesome forces of disintegration:
• Both Diocletian (285-305) and Constantine
(306-337) faced the problem of threats to the
borders from the Germans and from
Persia
• They also had to deal with the on-going
economic crises that was eroding the high
standard of living which characterized the
Pax Romana
Diocletian
• To insure production
of goods, farmers,
artisans and unskilled
workers had to 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, 306-331
• The first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, turning
the empire into a Christian state
In 324, Constantine moves East
The Germanic Tribes c. 362
Turning point:
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 to 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)
• Visigoth chief Alaric was the first non-Roman to rule
the city in 800 years. He left in three days, after highlyorganized, but relatively non-violent looting.
End of an Empire: 476
• Romulus Augustulus, the last Roman
Emperor was deposed by a German
chieftan named Odoacer who claimed the
western crown for himself.
Rome’s last gasps…
Theodoric the Great 489-526
• - Ostrogoth king ruled Italy
from Rome… after killing
Odoacer
• 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…
• 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.