6.5 Notes The Fall of Rome

6.5-Empire Weakens Weak Leaders When the Pax Romana ended in 180 CE the Roman Empire began to weaken as it faced challenges from both inside and outside the empire After the last good emperor died a series a civil wars began Outside invasions made the emperor increase the army which lead to financial issues This weakened the empire significantly 20 emperors between 235-284 all but one died violently Generals of the army became the real leaders

6.5-Empire Weakens Economic Troubles Empire’s instability led to robberies Cost of the military raised= taxes raised New money coined with less silver to help with economic trouble Opposite effect people would not can the coin bc it wasn’t worth as much. Caused inflation Economic crisis – increased costs for military led to decreased prosperity, increased taxes, decreased trade, new money coined causing value of money to decrease and prices to rise - inflation

6.5- Attempts at Reform Diocletian successful reformer - becomes emperor in 284 CE The crisis of the 200’s led to reform Changes empire government structure to an absolute monarchy Split the empire into two (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire) Co-emperor in the West, both had advisors who were Caesars Regulated all aspects of Roman life (sons followed the trades and social positions of their fathers, peasants were permanently tied to the land they farmed) Increased size and budget for military Switched economy to military production Introduced new tax system Reforms were successful

6.5- Attempts at Reform Constantine In 305 Diocletain and his co-emperor abdicated the throne so their Caesars could rise as emperors. Soon civil war broke out Order was not restored until 312 when Constantine was proclaimed the new emperor by his troops Constantine continued policies enacted under Diocletian – became emperor in 312 CE State control over society Converted to Christianity and legalized the practice of the religion in 313 CE in the Edict of Milan Built a new capital in Eastern Roman Empire – Constantinople Because the east was richer and better protected than the west. Reforms enacted under Diocletian and Constantine only slowed the decline the eventual fall of the Roman Empire was inevitable

6.5-Invasion and Fall Invasion and Fall of Rome Germanic tribes has invaded Rome’s frontiers Increasing shifts of population from Asia into Europe pushed these Germanic tribes into Roman Empire In the 300’s a nomadic tribe called the Huns stormed out of the east and sent the Germanic tribes fleeing. The Huns could not be stopped In 370 the Huns attacked, Ostrogoth, a Germanic tribe and sent even more Germanic tribes fleeing into the Roman Empire Pushed by the Huns other migrating tribes went into the Roman Empire and began attacking the Roman Empire The Vandals tribe attacked Rome In the 400’s Attila, a strong leader for the Huns, attacked Gaul The Rome army allied with the Germanic tribes, The Visigoths, and defeated the Huns Huns set out for Rome however Pope Leo I convinced them to leave

6.5-Invasion and Fall Fall of the West Despite the Hun’s withdrawl of Rome the Western Empire lay in shambles Germanic Tribes ruled most of the western provinces including Italy In 476 tribe leader Odoacer over threw the last Roman Emperor in the West Considered the end of the Roman Empire Empire in the East did not collapse Lasted for several centuries Last period of the Eastern Roman Empire is considered the Byzantine Empire

Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome The Western Roman Empire falls in 476 CE after an attack led by the barbarian commander Odoacer The Eastern Roman Empire does not collapse, but over time evolves into the Byzantine Empire due to influences from other cultures, especially Greek Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome Causes Weak leadership after 180 CE *Invasions Economic Crises *Social Unrest and Insecurity Effects *In the west, the disappearance of central authority and the creation of small kingdoms *In the east, the continuation of the Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople