1. World History Chapter 6D The Decline of the Roman Empire

2. Rome’s Economy Declines Trade is disrupted by the Germanic tribes attacking Rome’s borders. Pirates also raid Roman shipping in the Mediterranean. Rome’s riches leave Italy to pay for luxury goods in foreign lands. The cost of government rises and this causes inflation. Agriculture declines because of the overworked land and high taxes

3. Rome Faces Military Upheaval Barbarian tribes overwhelm Roman garrisons in Europe. Persia attacks in Asia Minor (Turkey) and this weakens Rome in the East. The discipline of the Roman army collapses and Rome has to recruit mercenaries who have little loyalty to Rome.

4. Roman Politics Decays Loyalty-The belief that the Romans had in their Republic and then their empire disappears. Holding political office had been an honor and a way to wealth. By 200 A.D. holding office became very expensive and political leaders had to entertain the populace with holidays and festivals out of their own pocket. Armies started declaring their Generals as Emperor thereby weakening Rome even further.

5. Emperors Attempt Reform Diocletian is a very strong willed and capable man and he becomes Emperor in 284 A.D. He restored order and strengthened the Empire. He hired mercenaries and controlled inflation by fixing prices on food and other goods. He forced farmers to work the land and he made workers stay at their jobs for life.

6. Diocletian

7. Continued Diocletian divided the Empire into two parts, one West and the other Eastern, because it had become too large for one man to run alone. He retains overall control. In 312A.D. Constantine becomes Emperor and he moves the capital to Byzantium.

8. Constantine

9. Invaders Overrun the Western Empire Throughout Roman history there had been Germanic tribes on Rome’s northern border and they had been controlled by the legions stationed among them. From 376 to 476 A.D. large numbers of barbarians started pouring into Roman territory because of the pressure on them from the Huns (fierce tribes from Central Asia).

10. Continued The division of the Empire between West and East left most of the wealth in the East. The West had very little resources to use to stop these Germanic invasions and by 412 Alaric sacks (plunders) Rome. The last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus is exiled from Rome. The Western Roman Empire is gone.

11. Alaric

12. Romulus Agustulus

13. TA6E READ PAGES 178-183 COPY AND DEFINE TERMS ON PAGE 183 COPY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS 17 AND 18 ON PAGE 184