Reasons for the Decline of Rome Roman Empire Reasons for the Decline of Rome

Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by Citing the reasons for the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire Essential Question: Why did the Western Roman Empire decline?

Reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire Geographical Political Military Economic Social

Geographical The geographical size of the Roman empire led to difficulty in its defense and administration Led to multiple invasions and attacks at its borders

Political Political office was seen as a burden, not as a reward Incompetent Emperors Weak administration The military interfered with politics  Civil war and unrest broke out  The empire was divided into East and West  The capital was moved from Rome to Byzantium

Military There was a threat of invasion from northern Germanic tribes Funds for defense were low Problems with recruiting Roman citizens occurred, so they had to recruit non-Romans Called mercenaries Patriotism and loyalty among soldiers declined Problem with Discipline

Economic Cost of maintaining huge army Poor harvests Disruption of trade Lack of gold and silver Inflation Devaluation of Roman currency The tax burden was crushing A widening gap between rich and poor, with an increasing poverty in the West

Social There was a decline in interest of public affairs Confidence in the empire was dropping  Loyalty and patriotism was falling, corruption was wide-spread  A contrast between rich and poor Moral decay People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

Roman Empire Efforts at Reform

Diocletian’s Reforms Became emperor in 284 C.E. Doubled the size of the armies  Hired German mercenaries (foreign soldiers who fought for money)

Diocletian’s Reforms Tried to control inflation by setting prices for goods Froze jobs, no one could switch professions Passed laws to persecute the Christians Divided the empire into the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West

Results of Diocletian’s Attempts Slowed the decline of the empire Borders became safe again  The emperor’s prestige was restored  After he retired, civil war broke out and four rivals competed for power

Constantine Took over in the West in 312 C.E. Took over the East in 324 C.E.

Constantine’s Reforms Moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium Protected the city with massive walls and filled it with imperial buildings like Rome Gave the city a new name, Constantinople

Results of Constantine’s Attempts Capital was now located on major East-West trade routes The center of power in the empire shifted East After his death, the empire was divided again and the East survived while the West fell

Roman Empire Foreign Invasions

Foreign Invasions Wars in East Asia caused the Huns to migrate across Central Asia. By 350 C.E., the Huns reached Eastern Europe. Germanic Tribes sought safety (escape from the Huns) by crossing into Roman territory. Roman armies were unable to defend themselves against the Germanic tribes.

Foreign Invasions In 434 C.E., Attila the Hun’s invasion of Europe sent more Germanic tribes into Rome. In 476 C.E., Odoacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor in Rome.

How Roman Empire was divided Capital New capital became Byzantium Split Western Rome: capital Rome Eastern Rome: capital Byzantium Western Roman Empire Destroyed and attacked by Barbarians from Germanic tribes in 476 C.E. Eastern Roman Empire becomes the Byzantine Empire and continues to thrive and flourish for another 1000 years

Revisit Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by Citing the reasons for the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire Essential Question: Why did the Western Roman Empire decline?