The Roman Empire at its Height The Roman Empire became huge It covered most of Europe North Africa and some of Asia The Empire reached its height under Emperor Diocletian 284305 CE The Decline Begins ID: 221275
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Slide1
The Fall of the Roman EmpireSlide2
The Roman Empire at its HeightThe Roman Empire became hugeIt covered most of Europe, North Africa, and some of AsiaThe Empire reached its height under Emperor Diocletian (284-305 CE)Slide3
The Decline Begins180 CE Marcus Aurelius died
His son, Commodus, took control of RomeCommodus was a poor leader (he bankrupted the treasury) and was killed by his bodyguard
Time of disarray
follows, the
next 28 emperors were installed by the army, only to be killed off
Commodus from the
movie GladiatorSlide4
Political ProblemsPoor leaders weakened the governmentFrequent fights for power
Many officials took bribesTalented people chose not to serve due to dangers of government lifeSlide5
Social ProblemsTaxes were too great, many rich people stopped payingPeople stopped attending school
Large number of people enslavedPlague (disease) spread throughout Rome, killing 1 in 10Famine: There was not enough food to feed peopleSlide6
Economic ProblemsFarmers lost land, unable to grow and sell crops, out of work (and famine)
People bought fewer goods, shops closedInflation occurred: Rapidly rising prices. Money lost value because fewer taxes paid.
Coins lost value: Less gold put in, people found out (caused inflation)
Bartering grew: sell goods without using money
Government minted more coins to cope with economic problems
Caused inflation = a rise in prices & a decrease in the value of moneySlide7
Military ProblemsMilitary only in it for money (mercenaries)No money to pay military = weak military
Constant threat of invaders on empire’s bordersWeak military, unable to stop border invasions Armies fighting each other didn’t have time to defend the Empire’s borders against attack
Warfare disrupted production & trade, as well as farmlandSlide8
Diocletian284 CE, Diocletian became emperorTried reforms (political changes)Set price limits (if a person went beyond limits, put to death) and ordered workers to stay in jobs to deathSlide9
Dividing the EmpireDiocletian felt that the only way to save the empire was to divide it in halfCreated two empires: Western and Eastern Western Empire: Europe/ North Africa and city of Rome
Eastern Empire: Turkey/ Asia and city of ByzantiumTwo emperors, emperor in charge of Rome was seniorSlide10
ConstantineDiocletian retired and Constantine took his place as emperorConstantine (312 CE) united the empire again under one ruler
First Christian emperorEdict of Milan?Attempted reforms
Main reform: sons had to follow fathers’ tradeSlide11
ConstantinopleRome continued to declineConstantine moved the capital from Rome to city of ByzantiumCity name changed to Constantinople (today is Istanbul)Slide12
Current DaySlide13
TheodosiusConstantine died in 337 CE, replaced by TheodosiusTheodosius could not rule the empire, divided in two again
Western Roman Empire with capital in RomeEastern Rome Empire with capital in ConstantinopleSlide14
Warrior GroupsWarrior group = warriors, their families, and a chief
Poor compared to RomansMany different warrior groups --> only thing they had in common was Germanic language
Romans considered these tribes barbarians & thought of their language as weird babbling & sounds
The Visigoths = captured & sacked Rome
The Huns (led by Attila the Hun) = plundered cities in Italy
Attila the HunSlide15
Barbarian InvasionsGermanic tribes entered the Empire for many reasons:
Looked for warmer climateWanted better grazing landWanted Rome’s wealth
Most were fleeing from the Huns = fierce nomadic invaders & warriorsSlide16
Rome invadedWestern Empire unable to hold off German tribes on its bordersOstrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, SaxonsGerman tribes wanted warmer area, Roman riches, and to flee the HunsSlide17
VisigothsRome agreed to allow the Visigoths to live inside of Roman boundariesRomans treated Visigoths badlyVisigoths rebelled and defeated the RomansVisigoth leader, Alaric, captured Rome in 410 CESlide18
VandalsVandals followed Visigoths and spent 12 days stripping Rome of valuables (vandalism)Many more German invaders followed
Finally, a German general named Odoacer defeated the western emperor Romulus Augustulus (14 years old, little Augustus)Slide19
The FallAugustulus was defeated in 476 CEFor this reason, this date is given as the fall of the Western Roman EmpireWestern Empire was divided into many kingdoms that adopted many of the customs of RomeSlide20
End of the Western EmpireGermanic tribes (Vandals, Franks, Goths, etc.) took over the Empire
Overthrew the emperorWestern Roman Empire ended in the late 400s
Some Roman culture remained
Germanic rulers accepted: Latin language, Roman laws, and Christian ChurchSlide21Slide22
Eastern Roman EmpireAlthough the Western Empire fell in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper for 1,000 more yearsBecame known as the Byzantine Empire