The Fall of Rome

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The Fall of Rome
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After 1000 years of civilization, Rome is eroded
by the Germanic tribes that migrated into the
empire.
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During the late 300s and early 400s (AD), many
groups invaded Roman territory Visigoths,
Vandals, Franks, Saxons, Angles, and
Ostrogoths. The Visigoth chief Alaric led his
people into Rome itself.
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Soon after Alaric, the Huns under Attila raided
the empire. The German tribes actually worked
with the Romans to expel the Huns.
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When the Huns were gone, the Germans attacked the
Romans again and the empire was officially gone.
Death Certificate Rome
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In 476 AD, a German soldier-turned-General named
Odoacer captured Rome and 1000 years of progress
came to an end.
No more Rome?!
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• The Fall of Rome precipitated an economic,
  political, and social crisis that turned into the
  Medieval Period (Middle Ages).

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• The Fall of Rome is a process, not an event. It
  took hundreds of years for Rome to fall, and the
  roots of the fall were set in motion over 400
  years before the end.

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Odoacer named himself king, not emperor. The
Catholic Church had no problem with a new king as
long as they were left alone.

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Why is the Catholic Churchs opinion important?
They are the only medieval institution that is in
every European country and knows how to write!!
Their diplomacy and unified beliefs will be the
only source of stability in Europe for the next
1000 years.
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Fortunately, there is a pocket of civilization
that remains from the Roman Empire The
Byzantine Empire. It is centered around
Constantinople.
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• The Fall of Rome precipitates the advent of
  the Middle Ages.
• The Medieval Period is generally assumed to be
  400-1450 AD (CE).

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The legacy of the Romans (for us) 1. Christian
church. 2. Cultural diffusion. 3.
Byzantine Empire Roman law. 4. Literature and
letters. We are cultural descendants of the
Romans and the Greeks.