Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Learning Objective: 1) Students will be able to describe problems in the late Roman Empire 2) Students will be able to describe the events that led up the split of the Empire and to the Fall of Rome.

Roman Empire

READ WITH ME Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, ended 100 years of civil war and expanded the boundaries of the empire. When he died in 14 A.D., few Romans could imagine that the empire would ever end. Yet by the year 500, the Western half of the empire had collapsed. Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, ended 100 years of civil war and expanded the boundaries of the empire. When he died in 14 A.D., few Romans could imagine that the empire would ever end. Yet by the year 500, the Western half of the empire had collapsed.

PROBLEMS IN THE LATE EMPIRE Together the Roman Republic and Empire had lasted almost 1,000 years Together the Roman Republic and Empire had lasted almost 1,000 years By the year 500 AD, the Roman Empire had collapsed. What happened? By the year 500 AD, the Roman Empire had collapsed. What happened?

Read With Me There was no single reason for the end of the Roman Empire. Instead, historians point to a number of problems that combined to bring about its fall. There was no single reason for the end of the Roman Empire. Instead, historians point to a number of problems that combined to bring about its fall.

Problem #1 Political Instability Political Instability Not always a clear way to choose a new Emperor. Not always a clear way to choose a new Emperor. Caused internal wars. Caused internal wars. Often, the Praetorian Guard, the Emperor’s private army, chose by force. Often, the Praetorian Guard, the Emperor’s private army, chose by force. Political: dealing with who is in charge of the government Instability: not stable, uncertain

Think / Pair / Share A’s tell B’s why the late empire suffered from political instability. B’s tell A’s why the late empire suffered from political instability. I will now pick some students to explain to the class

Problem #2 Economic and Social Problems Economic and Social Problems High Taxes to fund the army. Drove people into poverty. High Taxes to fund the army. Drove people into poverty. Lots of slave labor, which meant less jobs available. Lots of slave labor, which meant less jobs available. High unemployment. High unemployment. Corruption and a rise in crime. Corruption and a rise in crime. Economic: to do with money Social: to do with how people get along together

Think / Pair / Share A’s tell B’s what types of economic problems the late Roman empire faced. B’s tell A’s what types of economic problems the late Roman empire faced. I will now pick some students to explain to the class

Problem #3 Weakening Frontiers Weakening Frontiers and Over-extension and Over-extension Huge size made it hard to defend. Huge size made it hard to defend. Sometimes took 2 weeks for leaders in Rome to get news to its generals. Sometimes took 2 weeks for leaders in Rome to get news to its generals. People in the army were now recruited from conquered lands, and less committed to Rome. People in the army were now recruited from conquered lands, and less committed to Rome.

Use your whiteboards Which of the following was not a reason for the decline of Rome? A. Political Instability B. Weakening of the Frontier C. The outlawing of slavery D. High taxes and unemployment

Use your whiteboards Which of the following was not a reason for the decline of Rome? C. The outlawing of slavery

Guided Practice At the end of your notes, draw three pictures to represent the three problems Rome was facing that led to its fall. At the end of your notes, draw three pictures to represent the three problems Rome was facing that led to its fall. Use colored pencils to make your designs colorful. Use colored pencils to make your designs colorful.

THE SPLITs! What does the Emperor Diocletian do to solve these problems? What does the Emperor Diocletian do to solve these problems? He splits the Empire into 2 parts. Rome becomes the capital of the West, and Byzantium becomes the capital of the East.

Constantine Moves the Capital What did the Emperor Constantine do? What did the Emperor Constantine do? Briefly reunites the empire. Accepts Christianity as a religion in 313. Briefly reunites the empire. Accepts Christianity as a religion in 313. In 330, the Emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium. (Later re-named Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, Turkey.) In 330, the Emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium. (Later re-named Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, Turkey.)

One Empire Becomes Two….

Two Capitals Capital of the West Capital of the West Capital of the East Capital of the East Rome Rome Constantinople Constantinople

Use your whiteboards Another name for the city of Constantinople is _______________.

Use your whiteboards Another name for the city of Constantinople is Istanbul or Byzantium

What’s left of the Roman half is invaded! In 410 AD a Germanic Tribe attacked and looted Rome itself. In 410 AD a Germanic Tribe attacked and looted Rome itself. In 476 AD, the last emperor in the West was driven from his throne. In 476 AD, the last emperor in the West was driven from his throne. Pope now in charge of Rome. Pope now in charge of Rome.

But the East Remained… And a new empire is born that will last almost another 1,000 years….. And a new empire is born that will last almost another 1,000 years….. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE Video: The Fall of Rome Song Video: The Fall of Rome Song Video: The Fall of Rome Song Video: The Fall of Rome Song

Think /Pair/ Share A’s describe to B’s how the new Byzantine Empire was born from the old Roman Empire. B’s describe to A’s how the new Byzantine Empire was born from the old Roman Empire. I will now pick some students to explain to the class.

DRAW TWO BOXES UNDER YOUR NOTES Cause What were the three problems the Roman Empire faced? Effect What religion did Constantine accept in 313? What did Diocletian do to the Roman Empire? To what city did Constantine move the capitol? What was the new empire in the East?