Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire

Published byOswald Francis Modified over 6 years ago

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire"— Presentation transcript:

1 Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire

2 Rome at Its Height Under Emperor Trajan (ruled )

3 Stability At its Height
Financial system raised significant taxes Supported a large regular army Well-organized and disciplined army The cursus honorum ensured that powerful noblemen were familiar with military command Many centurions were well-rewarded, literate, and responsible for training, discipline, administration, and leadership in battle City governments functioned effectively Own revenues and properties Emperors adopted capable successors Civil wars were not required to regulate the succession Religious strife was rare

4 But… Cracks Appear Plague brings high mortality rates
Three crushing defeats at hands of Sassanid Empire (Persian) Repeated civil wars Barbarian invasions

5 Four Key Causes for Rome’s Decline & Fall
Economic Social Political Military Remember…gradual decline over 900 years

6 Economic Causes

7 I) Economic Causes No expansion = no more plunder or slaves
Crushing tax increase to support army and bureaucracy Dependence on slave labour discourages innovation Failure to industrialize economy Education emphasized rhetoric to produce politicians Any occupation associated with technology not considered respectable work Widening gap between rich and poor Rich senatorial families immune from taxation Indenture of farmers to wealthy land owners Masses too poor to buy goods to stimulate industry

8 Declining Population 400-600 CE: population decline all over Europe
Perhaps due to plague and taxation Couldn’t afford large families Results Not enough farmers = unsecure food supply Hire barbarian mercenaries for defense

9 Plague & Pestilence 165-180 CE: Antonine Plague in Rome
Up to 40% of population dies Likely smallpox or measles Brought back with soldiers from east Mass grave in Britain

10 Tax Revenue & Economy Tax revenues sucked up by army
Minted more coins to pay army Results in inflation Farmers can’t make enough to support themselves Become indentured to wealthy farmers Bread and Circuses accomplishes NOTHING in sustaining/improving the economy

11 Social Causes

12 II) Social Causes Population decline from war and disease
Decline in patriotism, devotion, discipline Spread of Christianity Identify with faith, not nationality Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest Moral decline Mad craze for pleasure – increasingly brutal and immoral

13 Political Causes

14 III) Political Causes Political office viewed as a burden, not a reward Military interference in politics Civil war and unrest Cruelty, corruption, extortion become common Division of empire Capital moved to Byzantium

15 Diocletian (284-305 CE) Promoted by Praetorian Guard in 284 CE
293: Divided Empire into East & West 2 senior emperors (Augusti) assisted by junior emperors (Caesares) Reformed bureaucracy, military, reorganized provinces Standing armies on frontiers Mobile units in provinces to squash rebellions Cavalry becomes as important as infantry Recruit Germanics and other non-Romans Serious attempt to eradicate Christianity Churches dismantled, scriptures burned, persecution, sacrifice to emperor or die (martyrs)

16 Division of the Empire

17 Constantine ( CE) Son of a Roman general in Britain, proclaimed Emperor by his troops 312: During a civil war to unite West & East, won a great victory at Milvian Bridge Apparently had a vision of a cross “in this sign you will conquer” First Emperor to convert to Christianity

18 Constantine the Christian
313: Edict of Milan (or Edict of Toleration) Frees Christians from persecution 330: Established Constantinople as new capital of Rome (Byzantium) 360: Built Hagia Sophia Centre for vision of a new Christian Roman Empire

19 Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom)

20 Theodosius ( CE) Last emperor to rule over West & East halves of Roman Empire Christianity: official state religion Advocate of the Nicene Creed (325) Statement of Christian Faith by bishops in Nicaea Banned pagan worship Closed pagan temples Abolished Olympic games (393)

21 Military Causes

22 IV) Military Causes Failure of gov’t to control army
Blatantly corrupt – used for political power Poorly trained, undisciplined army Decline of patriotism and loyalty Roman citizens unwilling to fight Little loyalty among hired soldiers (mercenaries) Threat of barbarian invasion northern European tribes and the Huns Visigoths sack (410) & topple (476) Rome

23 External Forces Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed Roman frontier and invaded Greece, Italy, Spain, and coast of Asia Minor beginning in 3rd century

24 End of Western Rome Alaric Odoacer Theodoric the Great
King of the Visigoths – sacks Rome in 410 after Stilicho doesn’t come through on payment to help feed Italian peninsula Stilicho: Gothic general in Roman army ruling while Emperor Honorius is a boy Odoacer Visigoth general deposes last emperor, Romulus Augustulus (a boy) in 476 Theodoric the Great Gothic king, takes power from Odoacer after killing him at a dinner party

25

26 What About Eastern Rome?
Eastern Empire continues as Byzantium (Byzantine Empire) until 1453 Preserves Greco-Roman knowledge

27 Legacies of Rome Architecture and Technology Law and Government
Language Art, Literature, Philosophy Christianity

Download ppt "Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire"

Similar presentations

The Decline & Fall OF The Roman Empire

The Decline & Fall OF The Roman Empire
Read Along Chapter 5 Section5.

Read Along Chapter 5 Section5.
The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire
The Fall of Rome For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world.

The Fall of Rome For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world.
The Fall of Rome For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world.

The Fall of Rome For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world.
Is expansion a good or bad thing or both? What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?

Is expansion a good or bad thing or both? What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?
ROME “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”

ROME “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”
235 – 284 Roman Empire in continual civil war 260 Emperor VALERIAN (253-260) was captured and skinned by the Persians (God’s vengeance for persecuting.

235 – 284 Roman Empire in continual civil war 260 Emperor VALERIAN ( ) was captured and skinned by the Persians (God’s vengeance for persecuting.
Ancient Rome: The Fall of the Roman Empire. Second Century CE  After Hadrian came a succession of emperors, both good and bad.  Diocletian became emperor.

Ancient Rome: The Fall of the Roman Empire. Second Century CE  After Hadrian came a succession of emperors, both good and bad.  Diocletian became emperor.
The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire
The Fall of Rome. The Decline of the Empire Emperors begin weakening in Rome –With no heir to Marcus Aurelius, emperors not sure exactly how to.

The Fall of Rome. The Decline of the Empire Emperors begin weakening in Rome –With no heir to Marcus Aurelius, emperors not sure exactly how to.
Fall of the Roman Empire Ms. Carmelitano. Crisis The start of the decline of the Roman Empire is blamed on Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) ◦ His reign ended.

Fall of the Roman Empire Ms. Carmelitano. Crisis The start of the decline of the Roman Empire is blamed on Marcus Aurelius ( AD) ◦ His reign ended.
CAUSES OF THE ROMAN COLLAPSE  Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) ended Pax Romana.  Next wave of emperors….completely incapable of ruling Rome.

CAUSES OF THE ROMAN COLLAPSE  Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) ended Pax Romana.  Next wave of emperors….completely incapable of ruling Rome.
12/15 Focus 12/15 Focus – Events and conditions inside and outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in 476 AD. Important Terms: Important.

12/15 Focus 12/15 Focus – Events and conditions inside and outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in 476 AD. Important Terms: Important.
Fall of the Roman Empire. The Fall of the Roman Empire 1. A Century of Crisis a. Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”) came to an end with Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180)

Fall of the Roman Empire. The Fall of the Roman Empire 1. A Century of Crisis a. Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”) came to an end with Marcus Aurelius (AD )
Bellringer: 2/19 and 2/22 1.Pick up the papers at the door. 2.Take out your Pompeii primary source worksheet.

Bellringer: 2/19 and 2/22 1.Pick up the papers at the door. 2.Take out your Pompeii primary source worksheet.
Decline of the Roman Empire  Rome’s Economy declines  Trade disrupted by piracy, neglect of roads and harbours, dangerous borders  Inflation (minted.

Decline of the Roman Empire  Rome’s Economy declines  Trade disrupted by piracy, neglect of roads and harbours, dangerous borders  Inflation (minted.
INTERNAL PROBLEMS AND INNOVATIONS SPUR THE DIVISION AND DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE The Fall of the Roman Empire.

INTERNAL PROBLEMS AND INNOVATIONS SPUR THE DIVISION AND DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE The Fall of the Roman Empire.
THE FALL OF ROME Events and conditions inside and outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse Essential Question: What led to the weakening.

THE FALL OF ROME Events and conditions inside and outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse Essential Question: What led to the weakening.
UNIT 1 – GREECE AND ROME Chapter 5 – Greece Chapter 6 – Rome.

UNIT 1 – GREECE AND ROME Chapter 5 – Greece Chapter 6 – Rome.

Similar presentations

Ads by Google