Walsingham Academy Mrs. McArthur Room 111 History of the Ancient and Medieval World “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” Edward Gibbon (1776*) Title taken from Edward Gibbon’s (1776) book of same name. Walsingham Academy Mrs. McArthur Room 111 *"Another damned, thick, square, book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh! Mr. Gibbon?" (William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, upon receiving the second volume from the author, 1781)

Assignment 2 Read text, pp. 175-177. Define: mercenaries, Huns, 378 and 476 C.E. Summarize the multiple causes of Rome’s decline in the West by completing the graphic organizer on the next slide. Reminders: Draft 1: Multimedia Project due 1/12 Final Multimedia Project due 1/19 Electronic and hardcopy (covers) 1-page letter, hardcopy

Decline of Rome Political Causes 1. 2. 3. 4. Economic Causes (in the West) Political Causes 1. 2. 3. 4. Social Causes Economic Causes Military Causes

In-Class Activities The Exhausted Empire According to Salvian, how did Romans living in areas overrun by the barbarians feel about the barbarian conquests? Surprising? What are 4 problems mentioned? What does the image at top of text, pp. 173 suggest about Roman power? Historians have offered many theories for Rome’s demise in the West. Consider some of the views offered on your sheet. Which ones may be added to your graphic organizer? Which ones need additional “arrow(s)”? Create and complete.

“The Decline”: Problems of Success (and the theories) Decadence and Disease Size and complexity Role of the “Other” (barbarians everywhere) Christianity: Being Number One Imperial Overstretch

Decadence and Disease The problems of wealth: luxury, escapism, pleasure seeking Fewer Romans: Falling birth rate Ill Romans: e.g. lead poisoning, epidemics.

Imperfect Solution = Division (Diocletian) Size and Complexity Maintaining far-flung infra-structure (roads, aqueducts) Problems of communication and coordination Imperfect Solution = Division (Diocletian) late 3rd century AD

“The Other”: Barbarians in our midst Were all barbarians the same? What impact did they have? Can we manage without them? “Rome did not fall, it was transformed.” Attila

Barbarian Invaders

(from 5 to 30 million believers) Christianity: Being Number One 4th Century: Triumph of Christianity (from 5 to 30 million believers) The Price of Success: Controversies and Heresies

Imperial Overstretch Can cultures become exhausted? What happens when many are “bored?” When things come unstuck: retreat and division Retreat from Britain (407 A.D.) Portions of empire lost to Roman control What happens when there seems to be a loss: of will, of confidence, of shared vision?

“The Fall”: Defining Moments (in the West!*) 410 A.D. Barbarian, Alaric, sacks Rome 476 A.D. Barbarian (Odoacer) deposes last “Roman” Emperor *The Roman Empire lives on for another 1000 years in the East! It is known as the Byzantine Empire.

it morphed into a new world order in western Europe. Conclusion: Did Rome “fall?” By the 5th century, something big and centralized had indeed broken up in the West. But Rome’s culture and many of its images lived on-in religion, languages, customs, law. Rome did not “fall;” it morphed into a new world order in western Europe.

Assignment 3 Study the map, pp. 178-9 along with PP slides 9-10. (Good Audio Summary : Follow interactive link.) Answer the 3questions, Thinking Critically. What is the purpose of the timeline on pp. 179? According to the timeline, what do the dates 410, 455 and 476 tell us about Rome? How does Jerome describe the Huns?

Assignments 4-5 Project Preparations Book Club Sign-up Check your knowledge. Follow link. Reminders: Draft 1: Multimedia Project due 1/12 Final Multimedia Project due 1/19 Electronic and hardcopy (covers) 1-page letter, hardcopy