Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire

Rome at Its Height Under Emperor Trajan (ruled 98-117)

Stability At its Height Financial system raised significant taxes Supported a large regular army Well-organized and disciplined army The cursus honorum ensured that powerful noblemen were familiar with military command Many centurions were well-rewarded, literate, and responsible for training, discipline, administration, and leadership in battle City governments functioned effectively Own revenues and properties Emperors adopted capable successors Civil wars were not required to regulate the succession Religious strife was rare

But… Cracks Appear Plague brings high mortality rates Three crushing defeats at hands of Sassanid Empire (Persian) Repeated civil wars Barbarian invasions

Four Key Causes for Rome’s Decline & Fall Economic Social Political Military Remember…gradual decline over 900 years

Economic Causes

I) Economic Causes No expansion = no more plunder or slaves Crushing tax increase to support army and bureaucracy Dependence on slave labour discourages innovation Failure to industrialize economy Education emphasized rhetoric to produce politicians Any occupation associated with technology not considered respectable work Widening gap between rich and poor Rich senatorial families immune from taxation Indenture of farmers to wealthy land owners Masses too poor to buy goods to stimulate industry

Declining Population 400-600 CE: population decline all over Europe Perhaps due to plague and taxation Couldn’t afford large families Results Not enough farmers = unsecure food supply Hire barbarian mercenaries for defense

Plague & Pestilence 165-180 CE: Antonine Plague in Rome Up to 40% of population dies Likely smallpox or measles Brought back with soldiers from east Mass grave in Britain

Tax Revenue & Economy Tax revenues sucked up by army Minted more coins to pay army Results in inflation Farmers can’t make enough to support themselves Become indentured to wealthy farmers Bread and Circuses accomplishes NOTHING in sustaining/improving the economy

Social Causes

II) Social Causes Population decline from war and disease Decline in patriotism, devotion, discipline Spread of Christianity Identify with faith, not nationality Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest Moral decline Mad craze for pleasure – increasingly brutal and immoral

Political Causes

III) Political Causes Political office viewed as a burden, not a reward Military interference in politics Civil war and unrest Cruelty, corruption, extortion become common Division of empire Capital moved to Byzantium

Diocletian (284-305 CE) Promoted by Praetorian Guard in 284 CE 293: Divided Empire into East & West 2 senior emperors (Augusti) assisted by junior emperors (Caesares) Reformed bureaucracy, military, reorganized provinces Standing armies on frontiers Mobile units in provinces to squash rebellions Cavalry becomes as important as infantry Recruit Germanics and other non-Romans Serious attempt to eradicate Christianity Churches dismantled, scriptures burned, persecution, sacrifice to emperor or die (martyrs)

Division of the Empire

Constantine (306-337 CE) Son of a Roman general in Britain, proclaimed Emperor by his troops 312: During a civil war to unite West & East, won a great victory at Milvian Bridge Apparently had a vision of a cross “in this sign you will conquer” First Emperor to convert to Christianity

Constantine the Christian 313: Edict of Milan (or Edict of Toleration) Frees Christians from persecution 330: Established Constantinople as new capital of Rome (Byzantium) 360: Built Hagia Sophia Centre for vision of a new Christian Roman Empire

Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom)

Theodosius (379-395 CE) Last emperor to rule over West & East halves of Roman Empire Christianity: official state religion Advocate of the Nicene Creed (325) Statement of Christian Faith by bishops in Nicaea Banned pagan worship Closed pagan temples Abolished Olympic games (393)

Military Causes

IV) Military Causes Failure of gov’t to control army Blatantly corrupt – used for political power Poorly trained, undisciplined army Decline of patriotism and loyalty Roman citizens unwilling to fight Little loyalty among hired soldiers (mercenaries) Threat of barbarian invasion northern European tribes and the Huns Visigoths sack (410) & topple (476) Rome

External Forces Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed Roman frontier and invaded Greece, Italy, Spain, and coast of Asia Minor beginning in 3rd century

End of Western Rome Alaric Odoacer Theodoric the Great King of the Visigoths – sacks Rome in 410 after Stilicho doesn’t come through on payment to help feed Italian peninsula Stilicho: Gothic general in Roman army ruling while Emperor Honorius is a boy Odoacer Visigoth general deposes last emperor, Romulus Augustulus (a boy) in 476 Theodoric the Great Gothic king, takes power from Odoacer after killing him at a dinner party

What About Eastern Rome? Eastern Empire continues as Byzantium (Byzantine Empire) until 1453 Preserves Greco-Roman knowledge

Legacies of Rome Architecture and Technology Law and Government Language Art, Literature, Philosophy Christianity