The Fall of Rome

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)

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 gov’t 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

Germanic Barbarians

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

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

Western Roman

Empire

Eastern Roman

Empire

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.)

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

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