The Fall of Rome

1
The Fall of Rome
2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
The Decline of the Empire

• Emperors begin weakening in Rome
• With no heir to Marcus Aurelius, emperors not
  sure exactly how to rule Rome
• Economic problems begin as well
• Trade begins to slow down
• Invaders disrupt trade on land and sea
• Gold and silver no longer in high supply
• Farms unable to produce enough food
• Rome needs money to pay for defense and other
  costs
• Tries to raise taxes to pay costs
• Also tries to mint coins with less silver
• Causes inflation (coins lose value)

6
The Decline of the Empire

• Military problems also arise for Rome
• Germanic tribes constantly attacked borders
• Persians also attacking eastern borders
• Referred to invaders as barbarians term for
  non-Romans
• Discipline and loyalty to Rome collapse in
  military
• Soldiers go back to being loyal to those
  fighting to become emperor like the times of
  Caesars
• Roman govt hires mercenaries foreigners hired
  to fight
• Problem is they are not loyal to Rome either its
  just a job
• Politics also declines in Rome
• People lose their love and devotion to Rome
• Holding public office is no longer an honor
• Now its only a way to become wealthy
• As costs rise, no one wants to hold office anymore

7
(No Transcript)
8
Germanic Barbarians
9
4 Major Areas of Downfall for the Roman Empire

• Weak/poor leadership of Emperors
• Unable to run a large empire properly and keep
  control
• Economic issues for the Empire
• Not enough food or money to pay costs
• Trade is being disrupted by invaders
• Coined money with less silver to create inflation
• Military problems of constant invasions by
  Germanic tribes
• Also being attacked by other groups of barbarians
• Military no longer loyal and forced to hire
  mercenaries
• Political problems and lack of loyalty to
  government of Rome
• People no longer want to hold public office

10
Attempted Reforms and Reformers

• Diocletian tried to reform Rome
• Doubled the size of the military provided jobs
• Set fixed prices for goods to try to control
  inflation
• Ordered farmers not to abandon their lands
• Persecuted Christians need to blame someone
• Most important he divided the Roman empire
• Divided it into East and West
• East- Greece and east
• West- Italy and west
• He took control of East, gave West to another
  leader
• Plan works for short time, then civil war breaks
  out again in Rome

11
Western Roman Empire
Eastern Roman Empire
12
Constantine Makes Changes to Rome

• Takes power following Diocletian
• Constantine reunites the empire in 324 AD
• Moves the capital to the eastern side
• No longer Rome as the capital
• Moves it to the city of Byzantium, renames it
  Constantinople after himself in 330 AD
• The west finally taken and Rome falls 476 AD
• Overrun by Germanic tribes- (Huns, Angles, etc.)

13
Germanic Tribes and Attila the Hun

• Numerous Germanic tribes attacked Rome
• Angles and Saxons took England
• Other Viking groups took further north
• The Huns- Germanic tribe led by Attila
• Attila attacked both sides of the empire
• Took most of the land, except for Constantinople
• The Western half was gone the Eastern half
  becomes the Byzantine Empire

14
The End of Western Rome

• Rome is attacked numerous times
• Constant attacks and lack of leadership end
  Western Roman Empire
• Capital is moved to Byzantium, then changed to
  Constantinople
• Western Roman Empire ends 476AD

15
(No Transcript)