The Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 6

The Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 6 Unit 4 Notes

The fall of the roman empire Main idea: § Empire building: internal problems and invasions spurred the division and decline of the roman empire Why now: § Decline and fall of great civilizations is a repeating pattern in world history Terms: § Inflation, mercenary, Diocletian, Constantinople and Attila

The Fall of The Roman Empire Setting the Stage: § 3 rd century AD Rome had many problems (external and internal) § Drastic economic, military, and political reforms couldn’t hold off the collapse

A Century In Crisis § Death of Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) ended the Pax Romana § Future rulers lack of experience leads to more problems and decline

A Century In Crisis Rome’s Economy Weakens § Factors of weakening economy: § § Hostile tribes/pirates disrupted trade Lack of new sources of gold/silver Raised taxes for more revenue Made more money with less silver § INFLATION: drop in value of $$ and rise in prices

A Century In Crisis § Factors of agricultural decline: § Harvest meager (over worked land) § War destroyed lands § Food shortage = starvation and disease = drop in population

A Century in Crisis Military and Political Turmoil § Military issues: § Less discipline and loyalty § Allegiance to commander NOT Rome § Recruited mercenaries (hired soldiers) to protect gov’t § Loss in patriotism

Emperors Attempt Reform § Empire stayed intact for 200 more years § Reform minded Emperors § Division of Empire Diocletian Reforms the Empire: § Ruled in 284 AD § Limited freedoms § Restored order and increased strength § Claimed to be a descendent of the Gods

Emperors Attempt Reform Diocletian con’t… § Believed empire was too large so divided it in 2: § East: Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt § West: Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain § Diocletian took the east and gave the west to a co-ruler § Diocletian maintained overall control § East became center of trade and wealth § Diocletian was ill, civil war broke out and Constantine took over

Emperors Attempt Reform Constantine Moves the Capital § Gained control of west in AD 312 and 12 years later gained control of east § AD 330 moved capital to Byzantium on the Bosporus Strait (connected E + W) § Center of power shifted to east § Called Constantinople (City of Constantine) § Constantine died, Empire divides again: § W = Fall and E = survive

The Western Empire Crumbles § Decline took many years: § Internal conflicts § Outside invasions Germanic Invasions § Northern border had co-existed § 370 Huns moved into the area and destroyed all in path § Germanics pushed into Rome to avoid Huns § Barbarians = non Romans § Lack of Army = German plunder Rome

The Western Empire Crumbles Attila the Hun § Indirectly responsible for German invasion of Rome § Huns destroyed 70 cities in the east (but Constantinople) § 452 arrive in Rome § Rome weak from disease and famine

The Western Empire Crumbles § Last emperor Romulus Augustus (14) § Ousted by Germans in 476 § Eastern half = Byzantium § Flourished for next 1000 years § Emperors saw themselves as heirs to Augustus Caesar

Multiple Causes of the Fall of Rome Contributing Factors POLITICAL Office seen as a burden SOCIAL Economic Military Decline in interests Poor harvests Threats in North Low confidence Disruption in trade Low funds for defense Lack of Patriotism Inflation Military interfered Civil war Rich/Poor contrast Tax burden Decline in population Gap between rich and poor Decline in population Division of Empire Immediate Causes = Germanic Tribes and Huns