Decline of the Empire

Rome Loses Structure Pax Romana- Roman Peace- no large foreign invasion Started with Augustus Lasted 27 BC-180 AD Generals patrolled the borders successfully No major social disorder within the empire Foreign wars were still fought expanding the empire

Political unrest Diocletian and Constantine Two rulers set up one-man rule Reforms: Farmers had to stay on their farms; ones who left were hunted down. Town officials had to collect taxes, and pay the difference between what the state wanted and what they collected. Government workers had to keep their jobs for life, and their children had to do the same job. The Roman Empire was split by Diocletian, into west and east. The new capital was Constantinople because the east was richer than the west

Foreign Invasion Visogoths- The Huns-Attila Vandels- Germanic barbarians, being pressured by the Chinese Huns attacked Rome Roman armies from all over the empire came to help Left the borders unprotected More Germanic armies invaded The Huns-Attila 451 AD invaded but were defeated Vandels- Barbarian, German, invaded from south, sacked Rome

Foreign Invasion West Rome falls Eastern Roman Empire Roman armies paid some German armies to help fight for Rome, they turned against the Romans and took control of the Western half the empire Overthrew Romulus Augustulus, placed German Odoacer Eastern Roman Empire Would hold for another 1000 years

Christianity blamed? Some blame the emergence of Christianity as cause for the Roman empire collapse They state the Christianity made the Romans into pacifists making them unable to fight against the barbarians on their borders Money used to build churches could have been used to maintain the empire

Decline in Morals Prostitution Excessive drinking and eating 32,000 in Rome Excessive drinking and eating Lavish parties Alcohol Lots of food Gladiatorial games Thirst for blood and entertainment Human and animal sacrifice

Public Health decrease Water brought to homes in lead pipes Gladiatorial games-blood and death spread disease Crowded cities Not sanitary water and improperly cooked food.

Political Corruption Choosing new emperor upon death of old Open to debate between the old emperor, the Senate, the Praetorian Guard (the emperor's private army), and the army. Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose the new emperor, who rewarded the guard who then became more influential Then in 186 A. D. the army strangled the new emperor, the practice became selling the throne to the highest bidder. During the next 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors - 25 of whom were removed from office by assassination.

Unemployment and inflation Wealthy farmers had slave labor, made product cheaper Small farmers could not compete Many lost farms and jobs Crime rates increased Lack of conquered lands, less gold coming in Money spent to pay for lavish items Gold used to make coins decreased, value decreased Salaries paid in food and clothing, taxes in fruit and vegetables

Inferior technology Built infrastructure But relied too much on human and animal labor, didn’t invent machines to produce good efficiently No new conquered lands meant no new technology coming

Military Expenditures Maintaining the military to protect the borders was very expensive People lost desire to defend the empire Armies had to be hired City mobs or foreign armies Expensive and unreliable