THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE CHAPTER 5.5

The Roman Empire The biggest problems for the Roman Empire came from both in and out of the Empire itself –Economics –Power struggles –Foreign invaders –Decline in “traditional” values Death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 C.E. signifies the “beginning” of the fall

Political Violence During the 100 years after the death of Aurelius the overturn of emperors was constant –Emperors were overthrown by political or military power people with support. –Those who took control rarely lasted more than a year or two. In one 50 year period, there were 26 Emperors Only 1 died of natural causes

Social/Economic Problems High taxes imposed by the government –Support army and bureaucracy –Heavy burden on small business and small farmers Farmland had been over-cultivated –Loss of nutrients = loss of production. Poor farmers were placed at the mercy of wealthy landowners –Sought protection from wealthy landowners. –Many worked the farms of the landowners and kept small plots for them themselves.

Power is divided – by choice Roman Emperor DIOCLETIAN decides the empire is too large for one person to rule –Divided empire into east (kept this for himself – wealthier) and west –Gave west to Maximian Diocletian also tried to stop inflation of prices by setting fixed prices for goods –Forced farmers to stay on same land –Forced sons to take up fathers occupation Ensured continuous production of goods and food

Emperor Constantine Replaced Diocletian in 312 C.E. –Army general Biggest changes he made in the empire –Moved Eastern capitol to Constantinople –Granted toleration to Christians in Roman Empire

Improvements had mixed results Economy revived a bit Increased power of the government allowed empire to stay together for another century Failed to stop long term decline –Internal problems –External attacks

INVADERS Nomads – begin the attacks that would eventually lead to the fall of Rome –HUNS – migratory people from central Asia moved into eastern Europe in 370 C.E. Caused many Germanic people to move into Roman territory –Visigoths, Ostrigoths, etc. –Rome itself is attacked Defeated by the Visigoths at the city of Adrianople in 378 C.E. 410 C.E.- Visigoths overrun the city of Rome itself Germanics also move into Gaul and Spain 434 C.E. – Atilla of the Huns attacks Europe and the Roman Empire 476 C.E. – Odoacer (Germanic) ousts the Roman Emperor

Why did Rome fall? Military attacks – to counter, Rome begins hiring mercenaries (foreign paid soldiers) Political turmoil – government becomes oppressive and dictatorial, corrupt officials, division between east and west –East becomes known as BYZANTIUM Economic weakness – heavy taxes to support government and military, reliance on slave labor stopped initiative, farmers begin to slip into poverty Social decay – values of patriotism, discipline, devotion to duty begin to decline