8 reasons why the roman empire fell

8 Reasons Why The Roman Empire Fell

Samoset Middle School Grade 8World History

8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell

Over the centuries, historians have identified eight primary reasons that answer the question: “what contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?”

FIRST

Invasion by Barbarians

Germanic tribes had been probing the edges of the Empire for centuries.

410 Alaric invades Rome

455 Vandals sack Rome

476 Odoacer deposes Emperor Romulus Augustulus


SECOND

Economic Problems/Overreliance on Slave Labor

Emploding due to crushing taxation, inflation, nobles fleeing urban centers for countryside and setting up fiefdoms (precursor to Middle Ages).

5th Century loss of North Africa to Vandals and then pirates disrupting trade.

No new territory = no new slaves. Slaves needed for farming and production of goods.

Commerical and agricultural production declines.


THIRD

Rise of Eastern Empire

3rd Century Emp. Diocletian divides empire into Western, capital Milan and Eastern, capital Byzantium (later Constantinople).

Greek speaking in East, Latin continues in West. Prosperity in East, turbulence and unrest in West. Byzantium fortified. Rome target of barbarians.


FOURTH

Overexpansion and Military Overspending

Roman Empire’s grandeur was also its downfall.

Unable to communicate quickly or effectively.

2nd Century Emperor Hadrian builds wall in Britain.

Military spending drains civil infrastructure (civil servants and roads).


FIFTH

Civil Unrest

Civil war.

Praetorian Guards, Emperor’s Personal Bodyguard, assassinates and installs Emperors at will.

Roman Senate incompetent and corrupt. Fails to temper excesses of Emperors (e.g.,Commodus).

Civic pride wanes “civis Romanus sum”- trust in government is lost.


SIXTH

Arrival of Huns and migration of Barbarian tribes

Huns caused “Great Migration” barbarians forced towards Rome’s borders because Huns rampaging through Northern Europe

Huns a nomadic tribe from near the Caspian Sea (Kazakhstan)

Rome allowed some Visigoths into Rome, but treated them very cruelly

The Goths Revolted; leading to Emperor Valens being killed and Rome being sacked by Goth King Alaric

Encouraged other tribes to surge across borders into the Roman Empire


SEVENTH

Christianity and the Loss of “Traditional Values”

Edict of Milan AD 313 makes Christianity legal and the state religion AD 380 and Constantine converts to Christianity

Focus shifted away from the State, “Cult of Rome” to a sole Deity (3 person Trinity: Creator, Redeemer, Inspiration = Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Pope, Patriarch of Rome, Successor to Peter, head of Church and other religious leaders take increased role in politics


EIGHTH

Weakening of the Roman Legions

Unable to recruit sufficient Roman soldiers.

Use of mercenaries, paid professional soldiers with no loyalty to Rome.

Their power hungry officers turned the soldiers against their Roman masters with disasterous results...for Rome.


Remember, AD 476 marks the end of the Western Roman Empire.

However, there was a “Second Rome” located in the East. It was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire - the City of Constantine...known as Constantinople. Its glory will continue to glow long after Rome. This is the story of Byzantium. It will last as a worthy successor until it will fall in 1453. Stay tuned.


Sources:

Joshua J. Mark. “Huns,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 14, 2014. http://www.ancient.eu /Huns/.

Donald L. Wasson. “Fall of the Roman Empire,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 16, 2015. http://www.ancient.eu /article/835/.

Evan Andrews. “8 Reasons Why Rome Fell,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified January 14, 2014. http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell

Rene M. Lafayette. Class notes. Unpublished.

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell

8 reasons why the roman empire fell

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