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The Decline & Fall of the
Roman Empire
What was the Roman Empire?
• There were two periods of Roman government.
– Roman Republic
• 509 BCE-27 BCE
– Roman Empire
• 27 BCE-476 CE
• Rome technically had an “empire” under the
Roman Republic.
– But the term “Roman Empire” refers to the time
period, beginning with Augustus, when Rome was
ruled by emperors.
The End of the Republic
• Octavian was sole ruler of Rome after his forces defeated
Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium
• The Senate gave him the name “Augustus,” meaning “most
high”
• 27 BCE – Octavian, now referred to as Augustus, was made
consul for life by the Senate
– Also made “Princeps,” meaning “first citizen”
• Origin of the word “prince”
– Also made “Imperator,” meaning “successful general”
• Origin of the word “emperor”
– Also made “Pontifex Maximus,” or “chief religious leader
• Origin of the word “pontiff” (used to describe the pope today)
– Also made a tribune
– He had the power to call the Senate, veto the Senate’s laws, and
make laws himself
The End of the Republic:
Primus inter pares
• “First among equals”
• Augustus and later emperors tried to maintain the
façade that they were elected officials rather than
dictators
• Being “first among equals” gave the illusion that
an emperor was the most prestigious and
important member of the Roman Senate, but that
each senator was simultaneously equally
important
• In reality, the Roman emperors ruled with little
input from anyone else
What was the Pax Romana?
•
•
•
•
•
Established by Augustus 27 B.C.E
Lasted nearly 200 years
Benefits enjoyed by 60 million people
It means Roman Peace
A long period of relative peace and
prosperity
Rome under Augustus:
Why was it a Golden Age?
Attempted to reform
public morals by
promoting family life
(largely unsuccessful).
Began the practice of
declaring emperors gods,
and of picking their own
successors. (He called
Haley’s Comet the spirit
of Caesar.)
Built and maintained the
empire’s infrastructure
(e.g., roads).
Encouraged the growth
of business.
Established fire and
police departments for
Rome.
Established a strong
money system.
Said he “found Rome a
city of bricks and left it a
city of marble.”
Jesus, the founder of
Christianity, was born in
the Roman province of
Judea during the reign of
Augustus.
Extended citizenship to
more and more
provincials.
The Fall of Rome: WHAT WENT WRONG?
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
What is needed to control such a
vast empire?
The Fall of Rome
•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
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.
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
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."
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.
Name:______________________
Date:_______
Political Causes
Economic Causes
Military Causes
Decline
Of
Rome
Social Causes
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
Name:______________________
Date:_______
Political Causes
•Oppressive government, loss of
popular support
•Increased government
corruption
•Division of empire
•Internal power struggles
Economic Causes
•Increase in taxes to
support army and
bureaucracy
•Reliance on slave labor
•Indenture of farmers to
wealthy landowners
Decline
Of
Rome
Social Causes
•Population decline caused by
war and disease
•Decline in patriotism,
discipline, and devotion to duty
•Devotion of upper classes to
luxury and self-interest
Military Causes
•Poorly trained armies
•Little loyalty among hired
soldiers
•Series of Germanic
invasions