1. Reasons for the Decline of Rome
Roman Empire
Reasons for the Decline of Rome

2. Objectives
The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by
Citing the reasons for the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire
Essential Question:
Why did the Western Roman Empire decline?

3. Reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire
Geographical
Political
Military
Economic
Social

4. Geographical
The geographical size of the Roman empire led to difficulty in its defense and administration
Led to multiple invasions and attacks at its borders

5. Political Political office was seen as a burden, not as a reward
Incompetent Emperors
Weak administration
The military interfered with politics 
Civil war and unrest broke out 
The empire was divided into East and West 
The capital was moved from Rome to Byzantium

6. Military There was a threat of invasion from northern Germanic tribes
Funds for defense were low
Problems with recruiting Roman citizens occurred, so they had to recruit non-Romans
Called mercenaries
Patriotism and loyalty among soldiers declined
Problem with Discipline

7. Economic Cost of maintaining huge army Poor harvests
Disruption of trade
Lack of gold and silver
Inflation
Devaluation of Roman currency
The tax burden was crushing
A widening gap between rich and poor, with an increasing poverty in the West

8. Social There was a decline in interest of public affairs
Confidence in the empire was dropping 
Loyalty and patriotism was falling, corruption was wide-spread 
A contrast between rich and poor
Moral decay
People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

9. Roman Empire
Efforts at Reform

10. Diocletian’s Reforms Became emperor in 284 C.E.
Doubled the size of the armies 
Hired German mercenaries (foreign soldiers who fought for money)

11. Diocletian’s Reforms
Tried to control inflation by setting prices for goods
Froze jobs, no one could switch professions
Passed laws to persecute the Christians
Divided the empire into the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West

13. Results of Diocletian’s Attempts
Slowed the decline of the empire
Borders became safe again 
The emperor’s prestige was restored 
After he retired, civil war broke out and four rivals competed for power

14. Constantine Took over in the West in 312 C.E.
Took over the East in 324 C.E.

15. Constantine’s Reforms
Moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium
Protected the city with massive walls and filled it with imperial buildings like Rome
Gave the city a new name, Constantinople

17. Results of Constantine’s Attempts
Capital was now located on major East-West trade routes
The center of power in the empire shifted East
After his death, the empire was divided again and the East survived while the West fell

19. Roman Empire
Foreign Invasions

20. Foreign Invasions
Wars in East Asia caused the Huns to migrate across Central Asia. By 350 C.E., the Huns reached Eastern Europe.
Germanic Tribes sought safety (escape from the Huns) by crossing into Roman territory.
Roman armies were unable to defend themselves against the Germanic tribes.

22. Foreign Invasions
In 434 C.E., Attila the Hun’s invasion of Europe sent more Germanic tribes into Rome.
In 476 C.E., Odoacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor in Rome.

23. How Roman Empire was divided
Capital
New capital became Byzantium
Split
Western Rome: capital Rome
Eastern Rome: capital Byzantium
Western Roman Empire
Destroyed and attacked by Barbarians from Germanic tribes in 476 C.E.
Eastern Roman Empire
becomes the Byzantine Empire and continues to thrive and flourish for another 1000 years

24. Revisit Objectives
The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by
Citing the reasons for the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire
Essential Question:
Why did the Western Roman Empire decline?