Topic: Decline and Fall of the Empire EQ: What internal factors led to the fall of the Roman Empire? Unit 1 * Chapter 2 * Lesson 2

200 Years of Pax Romana Senate still provided a check on power. Rome becomes an empire under the rule of Augustus and had many years of Prosperity and Peace. He created a strong government. Senate still provided a check on power. He died in A.D. 14, his policies helped Rome to increase. However Rome starts to decline ….how?

Reasons for Decline: Economic Difficulties Rome stopped expanding No more conquests meant no new wealth coming into the empire Officials struggled to pay the empire’s expenses and maintain the cost of its army Government raised taxes Higher taxes caused hardship for many citizens

Reasons for Decline: Social Difficulties Poor Romans found it harder to become educated as cost of education increased Distributing news across such a vast empire became more difficult People grew less informed about civic matters as less news spread across the empire

Reasons for Decline: Agriculture Throughout Italy and western Europe soil had became difficult to farm due to constant warfare and overuse Harvests grew increasingly weak and less food was produced Slave labor discouraged improvements in technology in farming Disease and hunger began to spread and the population declined

Reasons for Decline: Military Less money coming in to pay army properly Soldiers became less disciplined and loyal Pledged allegiance to individual military leaders instead of Rome

Reasons for Decline: Political Feelings of loyalty declined among average citizens Romans used to engage actively in civic duties and public affairs but began to care less Roman politics grew increasingly corrupt Politicians became more interested in financial gain than public service

Summary… What internal problems weakened the Roman Empire Summary… What internal problems weakened the Roman Empire? Answer in 3-5 complete sentences.

Topic: Fall of Rome part 2 EQ: What internal and external problems did Rome face that led to its fall?

Rome’s Slow Decline The decline of Rome was a slow process, the Roman Empire continued for another 200 years after its problems started This is largely in part to two strong emperors who ruled during this time

Diocletian (Dy*uh*KLEE*shuhn) Diocletian became leader of Rome in 284 AD Restored order by ruling with an iron fist Divided Rome into two parts: east and west Two parts made Rome’s immense territory easier to govern

Constantine In 313 AD declared an end to all attacks on Christians In 330 Constantine moved the capital of the empire from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium Later named in Constaninople.

Constantine (Continued) Byzantium became known as Constantinople, after Constantine The new capital signaled a shift in power from the western part of the empire to the east

Another Reason for Rome’s Fall: Different foreign groups (known as barbarians) were swarming all around Rome’s borders trying to invade Rome was too large to protect all its borders effectively

Barbarians Numerous Germanic people (known as barbarians) lived outside of Rome’s borders In the late 300’s they began pushing their way into Roman lands

Why Did the Barbarians Want to Invade? Looking for better land Gain some of Rome’s wealth Trying to escape from the Huns in Asia

The Huns Fierce group of warriors from Asia Eventually the Huns conquer parts of Rome The Western Roman Empire fell to Barbarian tribes and the Huns in 476

End of an Empire The final holdouts of Roman power in the west fell in 486 Clovis, leader of a Germanic group known as the Franks, conquered the remaining Roman land in the west. These series of attacks marks the end of the Roman Empire BUT the beginning of a new Empire… The eastern part of the empire survived . Becomes The Byzantine Empire .

Lesson Summary: Make a tree map and divide it to show some of Rome’s problems and external. Romes Problems Internal External