Split of Rome

Reasons for the Split Growth of Rome – it is huge! Difficulty governing: Laws are sent to provinces but provinces don’t always do what they are told. The further away from Rome the less likely a province was to listen Culturally the far away provinces were really different. Army now forced to police it’s own people so pulled away from protecting boarders How would splitting the Empire help solve these problems?

Reasons for Split Financial Strain Taxes and trade goods bring in supplies and money BUT… Cost of new roads, expanded government and more military protection are expensive More growth needed to collect more taxes – it is a Vicious Cycle Inflation of goods happen How would splitting the Empire help solve these problems?

Diocletian Emperor from 284 – 305 CE

Diocletian Created policy of Divine Right Emperors powers come from the Gods He has absolute power and runs the government like a military general – barking orders! City officials were personally responsible for collecting taxes – Rome now receives the money that it is due

Diocletian Increases the size of the military to protect the expanding boarders and get more land Puts price controls on goods to battle inflation Price control = government sets the price on goods Orders workers to stay in their current jobs (even if they are losing money)

Diocletian The decision to split the Empire finally happens in 285 CE. Diocletian decides to rule the Eastern Half from Constantinople – he packs up much of the treasury and leaves, never to return to Rome The east had better trade, more wealth, and a bigger population Diocletian chooses another military officer (Maximian) to rule the West.

Constantine I Emperor from 312-337 CE

Constantine I States that the sons of all workers must now take their fathers jobs Supposedly saw a “flaming cross” before going into a battle that he ended up winning

Edict of Milan Constantine creates the Edict of Milan which states that there is religious freedom in the Roman Empire This stops the persecution of Jews and Christians and makes them equal under the law.

Constantine and Religion Builds churches in Rome and Jerusalem Uses government money to pay for Christian books Lets church leaders work in the government On his death bed in 337CE, he converts to Christianity He single handedly helps the Christian religion grow more than any other Roman by making it legitimate.

Theodosius Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of Rome in 392 CE.

THE WEST CRUMBLES Here come the HUNS!!!! When the west crumbled tribes forced to run from the Huns began flooding into Roman boarders. Roman army unable to stop them. Rome loses control of Britain, France, & Spain 410 CE Germans overran Rome itself and plundered it for three days. Disease strikes the west and kills many

ATTILA THE HUN 444 CE Huns unite under a chieftain named Attila. 100,000 soldiers terrorized both halves of Empire.

What stopped the fierce Huns? The same disease and famine that kicked the Romans butts, kicked theirs as well. Could not scale Constantinople’s walls.

ATTILA DIES 453 Attila Dies and without him to hold the Huns together they were no longer the same major force.

Vandals Vandals migrated through Gaul and Spain to North Africa From there, they invaded various Mediterranean islands and Italy including city of Rome

The Last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus was only 14 years old. 476 A.D. German forces take him off the throne. No one even pretended to rule Rome in the West.

Decline of Rome Military lacks strength and loyalty, less training and many civil wars Disease has weakened western Rome. Population drops No more religious unity High taxes Senate has lost power, military has control of government Invasions from the north Decline in values – less pride in “being Roman” Rich interested in luxury, poor only getting poorer.