1. Decline of the Roman Empire

3. The Pax Romana 27 B.C. to 180 AD A time of peace and prosperity
Trade increased due to open trade routes and new territories.
Wealth – gold and silver from conquered territories.
Agriculture – food was plentiful.
Population growth.

4. Factors contributing to the fall of the roman empire

5. Economic Factors Disruption of trade by barbarians and pirates.
Decline in trade – money out, but not in.
Inflation – money lost value.
Taxation
Poor Harvests – overfarming.
Wealth gap between rich and poor.

6. Military Factors
Threat from Germanic tribes in he North – Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Goths.
Threat from Persia in the East.
No money to pay for the army.
Nobody wanted to fight – use of mercenaries and non-Romans.

7. Political Factors
Political office was seen as a burden, not a reward – cost money.
Military interference in politics – Legions wanted their general to be emperor.
Civil War
Division of the Empire (Diocletian)
Moved capital from Rome to Byzantium.

8. Social Factors Decline in interest in public affairs – nobody cared.
Low confidence in the Empire.
Disloyalty and Corruption.
Contrast between rich and poor.
Bread and circuses.
Rise of Christianity

9. Diocletian Emperor 284-305 AD
Wanted to slow the decline of Rome
Reform
Military – Prisoners of war and German mercenaries.
Inflation – fixed prices.
Agriculture – stay on the land.
Divided the Empire
West – Latin – Italy, Spain, Gaul and Britain.
East – Greek – Greece, Turkey, Syria and Egypt.

10. Constantine Became Emperor after winning the Civil War.
Reunited the Empire, but moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.
Saw a cross in the Sky with the message “In this sign conquer!” (HINT)
Embraced Christianity and ended the persecution of Christians.
Upon his death the Empire was again divided – East would rise and West would fall.

11. Fall of the Western Empire
Economic problems after the division of the Empire.
Germanic tribes move in to Roman Territory – pressure from the Huns
Atilla and the Huns further weakened the Western Empire.
In the fifth century AD German tribes sacked Rome and Famine weakened the population.
The Empire collapsed.
The Eastern Empire became the Byzantine Empire.

12. Conclusion The Roman Empire collapsed due to the following factors:
Social
Political
Economic
Military