The Fall of the Roman Empire

1
The Fall of the Roman Empire

• Chapter 6 Section 4

2
The Decline

• Economy Weakens
• Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt trade in the
  Mediterranean
• Empire lacked new sources of gold and silver for
  coins. Started to make less pure coins
• Led to inflation

3
The Decline

• Military and Political Turmoil
• Soldiers were less discipline and loyal
• Generals fought amongst themselves for power
• Government recruited mercenaries to fight

4
Diocletians Reforms Save Rome

• Diocletian
• Limited personal freedoms
• Doubled the size of the army
• Fixed prices of goods to control inflation
• Claimed descent from Roman gods to restore
  respect for emperor
• Divided the empire into east and west

5
Constantine moves the capital

• Takes power after Diocletian retires
• Restores the single ruler of East and West Rome
• Moves the capital to Byzantium which become
  Constantinople
• Upon his death the empire is divided, the west
  lives on the east falls

6
The Wests Slow Death

• Germanic Invasions
• Huns from Asia began to invade Germany in 370.
  Germans fled into Roman territory
• Rome was unable to put together an army to run
  them out
• Attila the Hun begins to attack and terrorize
  Rome and Constantinople

7
The End

• The last Roman emperor is ousted in 476 by the
  Germanic Tribes
• East Germany becomes the Byzantine Empire and
  flourishes