Do Now: Based on our previous studies what are some common reasons that can bring about the fall of a society?

 1.  2.  3.  4.  5.

 At the beginning of the empire, Rome had a number of very powerful and able rulers.  It is generally agreed that the best rulers were adopted heirs, and not biological heirs. Machiavelli wrote, “From the study of this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption; as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But so soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced.”  Machiavelli argued that these adopted emperors, through good rule, earned the respect of those around them: “Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus, and Marcus had no need of praetorian cohorts, or of countless legions to guard them, but were defended by their own good lives, the good- will of their subjects, and the attachment of the senate.”

 Served under the army under Emperor Carus.  When Carus was killed, Diocletian was named the new emperor  He appointed fellow officer Maximian Augustus his senior co-emperor in 285  Ultimately, he divided the empire into 4 parts with two senior emperors and two junior emperors.  Brought order back to a civilization that had been falling apart.  He recognized the empire would be easier to rule if divided into smaller pieces.

 Constantine moved the capitol of the empire from Rome to Constantinople, but was sole ruler.  After he died, the empire was re-divided amongst his sons.  Theodosius I – (Emperor from CE) made Christianity the official religion of the empire and banned the traditional polytheistic religion.  In the following 150 years, the Western Roman Empire slowly fell apart.

 Instructions: -Get into groups of 3-4 -On the back of your handout, you will find a list of reasons for the weakening of the Roman Empire. -Read the list, and using your best judgment, please rank the reasons in order from most important to least important.

Do Now: How does Rome affect us today?

 The Aneid by Virgil – finishes the story of the Trojan War and tells the story of the founding of Rome.