The Fall of the Roman Empire A Century

A Century of Crisis • ________last emperor to rule during the Pax Romana •

ROME’S ECONOMY WEAKENS • Hostile tribes on the boarders • Pirates in the Mediterranean

Military and Political Turmoil • Generals and soldiers became less loyal – Gave allegiance

Emperors attempt Reform • Diocletian – – – Iron fist- limited personal freedoms –

Constantine Moves the Capital • Took control of the Western portion • Continued Diocletian’s

The Western Empire Crumbles • 3 main causes for the fall of the West

Germanic Invasions • The Huns – Central Asians who invaded Germanic areas on the

Attila the Hun • Soon the Huns themselves were a direct threat • –

An Empire No More • Last Emperor of Rome: Romulus Augustulus – 14 years

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

A Century of Crisis • ________last emperor to rule during the Pax Romana • Inept rulers followed

ROME’S ECONOMY WEAKENS • Hostile tribes on the boarders • Pirates in the Mediterranean • No new sources of gold and silver – Needed money, so they raised taxes – Minted coins with less silver – Result was inflation • Drop in the value of money couple with rise in prices for goods • Crops failed – – –

Military and Political Turmoil • Generals and soldiers became less loyal – Gave allegiance to commanders • – Foreign soldiers who fought for money • Citizens were losing loyalty

Emperors attempt Reform • Diocletian – – – Iron fist- limited personal freedoms – Doubled size of the army – Worked to control inflation – Presented himself as a god – Divided the empire into Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West • He ruled the East and appointed a co-ruler for the West • He was in charge – – Civil war followed • Constantine took power

Constantine Moves the Capital • Took control of the Western portion • Continued Diocletian’s reforms • 324 A. D. took control of the Eastern portion • Moved capital from Rome to Byzantium • Rename Byzantium---CONSTANTINOPLE • After his death, the East remained but the West was lost.

The Western Empire Crumbles • 3 main causes for the fall of the West 1. 2. 3.

Germanic Invasions • The Huns – Central Asians who invaded Germanic areas on the borders of the Roman empire – Destroying everything in their path • • Romans called all invaders “barbarians” • Western Rome could not fight them off – Overrun in three days

Attila the Hun • Soon the Huns themselves were a direct threat • – 100, 000 soldiers – Terrorized both halves of the empire – Famine and disease stopped them • But Germanic invasions continued

An Empire No More • Last Emperor of Rome: Romulus Augustulus – 14 years old – Ousted by German forces in 476 • Power gone in the Western half • Eastern portion took a new name: The Byzantine Empire – Survived and flourished – Preserved Greek and Roman culture for another 1000 years – Ruled Constantinople – Lasted until 1453 - fell to the Ottoman Turks