The Fall of the Roman Empire

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

• In this lesson, students will identify factors
  which led to the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Students will be able to identify and/or define
  the following terms
• Emperor Diocletian
• Emperor Constantine
• Barbarian Invaders

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The Romans had conquered a vast empire.
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Emperor Diocletian

• In 284 A.D., the Emperor Diocletian divided the
  Roman empire into two parts an eastern section
  and a western section.
• Diocletian felt the Roman Empire was too big for
  one person to effectively govern.
• Ruling such a vast empire was difficult.

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Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman empire into
two parts.
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Emperor Constantine

• In 306 A.D., the emperor Constantine moved the
  capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to
  Byzantium in Asia Minor.
• Constantine renamed his new capital
  Constantinople.
• Constantinople had a good location for trade.

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Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the
Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople.
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Can you find Constantinople on this map?
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Barbarians

• For hundreds of years, Germanic tribes invaded
  the Roman Empire.
• The Romans called these Germanic tribesmen
  Barbarians.
• The term Barbarian was ethnocentric and
  insulting.

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The Roman army even built a wall trying to
prevent the Barbarians from invading.
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The Huns and The Barbarians

• When the Huns (a central Asian tribe) attacked
  the Germanic tribes, the Germanic tribes were
  pushed into the Roman Empire.
• At first, the Romans let the Visigoths (a
  Barbarian tribe) move within their empire.
• However, the Visigoths had to promise not to
  bring their weapons.

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However, the Visigoths did not keep their promise.
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The Battle of Adrianople

• In 378 A.D. at the Battle of Adrianople, the
  Roman army was defeated by the Visigoths.
• It was the first time, Rome could not defend
  itself.
• In 476 A.D., the western Roman empire fell.

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Barbarian invaders, corrupt emperors, and high
taxes were just some of the reasons for the fall
of Rome.
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Questions for Reflection

• Who was Diocletian and what did he do to the
  Roman Empire?
• Where did Constantine move the capital and why
  did he move the capital?
• Define Barbarians.
• Why is the Battle of Adrianople important?
• List three factors for the fall of Rome.
• When did Rome fall?