What goes UP, must come DOWN? 27 B.C. 180 A.D. 44 B.C. Punic Wars 509 B.C. 476 A.D.
5 The Long Decline of the Roman Empire How did Roman emperors try to end the crisis in the empire? How did Hun invasions contribute to the decline of Rome? How did economic and social problems lead to the fall of Rome?
5 Two Reformers Emperors try to save the Roman Empire Diocletian Divided the empire into two parts to make it easier to govern Tried to increase the prestige (reputation/credibility)of the emperor Fixed prices to slow inflation, or the rapid rise of prices (Consider: What is our gov t trying to do for our economy? Constantine Continued Diocletian s reforms Granted toleration to Christians, which led to the rapid growth of Christianity Built a new capital at Constantinople, making the eastern part of the empire the center of power Established laws to ensure steady production of food and goods Did someone say bailout plan???
Rome in DECLINE - The reforms of Diocletian and Constantine Diocletian and Constantine attempted to revive the Empire by undertaking a variety of reforms: Diocletian DIVIDES empire into 2 parts (Eastern and Western) with co-emperors. Constantine moves the CAPITAL from Rome to Constantinople Results: Their reforms revived the economy and held the empire together for about a century, BUT failed to stop the long-term decline
HOMEWORK DBQ 2: Fall of the Western Roman Empire Complete the documents only This will be the basis for an inclass essay TOMORROW
Fall of the Western Roman Empire Doc. 1 Doc. 2 Doc. 3 Doc. 4 Doc. 5 Doc. 6
Fall of the Western Roman Empire Doc. 1 apathetic = did not care Majority excluded from gov t & army Farming declined Doc. 3 Markets and economic progress stopped Slavery took jobs away & free peasants became tenant farmers or unemployed Doc. 5 Military decayed internally because foreign German barbarians (mercenaries) had replaced the proud old aristocracy Doc. 2 Empire was too large unable to keep control CHRISTIANITY had weakened empire (peaceful) Doc. 4 Gov t needed money for the army, bureaucracy (agencies) and welfare for the people High taxes crushed private businesses & gov t had to take over ( bail out ) People on welfare lost initiative and fiber of citizens weakened Doc. 6 (MAP) BARBARIAN invasions from the east and took control over various parts of the empire
Essay: Fall of the Western Roman Empire Paragraph 1 = Introduction: Consider the historical context and make a GENERAL statement that needs no specific evidence or support. Example = Throughout history geographic features have played an important role in the development of civiliations Finish the introduction with the main point you are going to make (thesis statement). This is guided by the TASK = REASONS for the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
5 The Empire in Crisis With the end of the Pax Romana, political and economic turmoil rocked the Roman empire. Political Problems Emperors were repeatedly overthrown or assassinated. The military gave their allegiance (loyalty) to Generals who paid them instead of the Empire *Example = In one 50-year period, 26 emperors ruled, and only one died of natural causes. Economic & Social Problems High taxes to support the army burdened business people and farmers. Poor farmers were forced to work and live on wealthy estates (latifundia). Over-cultivated farmland lost its productivity. Christianity was the official religion of Rome as of 313 Many people became more devoted to the Church than the empire Avarice (greed) destroyed honor (Bonus READING)
Roman Empire
Barbarians at the gate
5 Barbarians at the Gate nibble away at the Empire A weakened Rome could not withstand the forces of Germanic invasions. The Huns frightened & dislodged other Germanic peoples and, little by little, conquered the Roman empire. Mercenaries had to be hired in order to meet the demands of the failing military. They were paid soldiers, many from Germania, so they had little loyalty to Rome
Barbarians at the gate As the Visigoths approached Italy in the early fifth century, the Western Empire responded by shifting troops from Britain and from the Rhine and Danube frontiers to the defense of Italy. This set the stage for political disaster because the move weakened the frontier defenses. Not only did Britain fall to the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in 407, but the way was cleared for Germanic tribes to break through the poorly defended frontiers and overrun most of the Roman Empire's western provinces. Overwhelmed, the Roman armies were unable to expel the invaders and the Western Roman Empire, built up over the course of eight centuries, collapsed.
Barbarians at the gate
Decline of the Western Roman Empire Military Political Social Economic
The Decline and Fall of Rome
The final phase (f.y.i.) There were more periods of revolt and chaos. Barbarian invasions kept occurring. Much of the time no single emperor controlled both East and West. Increasingly the army was German (hired mercenaries loyal only to $). Theodosius (379-395) was last to control both East and West. Later his son Honorius (395-423) governed the west, (western capital in Ravenna), his son Arcadius (395-408) the east; east-west split was permanent. In 406 another vast wave of barbarian invaders came, fleeing the Huns. In 410 Alaric the Visagoth invaded and sacked Rome itself. The Huns entered in 450. [War & Civilization - horse warriors] German/barbarian warlords were the real power, the Western emperor was only a figurehead. In 476 A.D. Odoacer (who was actually a Roman General, foederati deposed the last western emperor. ************************************************************************************************** P.S. - The Byzantine empire, its capital at Constantinople, continued until it fell to the Turks in 1453.
What goes UP, must come DOWN? 27 B.C. 180 A.D. 44 B.C. Punic Wars The-fall-of-Rome 509 B.C. 476 A.D.
Ancient Rome Review Game 1. No complaining or whining that will be penalized! 2. BLACK word = Pictionary: draw pictures to get someone to correctly guess the word. [If guessed correctly = +1 pt. for guesser and +1 pt. for drawer IF you explain SIGNIFICANCE of the term to Ancient Rome.] 3. RED Wild Card = Taboo You need to have someone guess the word with clues you give. You can say anything EXCEPT the word itself. [+2 pts. For correct guess and +2 pts. for explanation of historical significance.] 4. PURPLE Really Wild Card = Pictionary: draw pictures to get someone to correctly guess the word. [+5 for correct guess]
Near East in 480 AD, showing Odoacer's Kingdom and its neighbors.