1. Fall of Roman Empire

2. Weakening Army The Empire needed a strong army to protect its borders.
Rome hired MERCENARIES, paid soldiers, from other provinces o protect Rome. These soldiers did not care about Rome.
Soldiers want more pay.
Emperors were greedy.
Powerful generals kept fighting among themselves about who should be the next emperor.
This fighting caused Rome to have at least 23 emperors in 73 years. All but one were assassinated.

3. Weakened Army Loyalty once again went to the general not to Rome.
Tribes were attacking from the borders.
No foreign army soldiers were promoted to general, which caused them to turn and attack Rome.
The defenses of the empire were strong on the edges but weak in the middle.
Once tribes broke through the defenses of the boarders it was easy to keep going.

4. Smaller Population
Warfare, famine, a declining birthrate, and plagues reduced the population from 50 million to 30 million in 200 years.
Fewer people meant fewer soldiers for the army.
Fewer people meant fewer farmers to grow food.
Fewer people meant less tax money collected.
Armies were not large enough to defend the empire.
Roads and bridges were not repaired which slowed down travel and trade.

5. Raising Taxes Government raised taxes to crippling levels
To pay for stopping rebellions in the provinces and defending the borders.
The borders were costing more and more to defend.
Many citizens went broke.
Poor people were driven to crime.
Gov’t. forced people to repair roads and bridges without pay.
Taxes were increased for some people 1/3 of their income went to taxes.

6. Declining Farms and Cities
Revolts destroyed large areas of farming and killed many farmers.
Heavy taxes drove farmers out of business.
Many farmers left their land to make money in the army.
Harvests declined causing food shortages.

7. Declining Economy
Diocletian divided the empire into east and west to make it easier to rule.
He fixed prices for goods and services to try to slow down INFLATION, the rapid rise of prices.
The western empire could not rely upon trade, food, financial or military from the east.
All resources were produced in the east.
The west was dependant on the east.
Wealth in the western empire dried up when no new lands were gained.

8. Loss of Confidence
People began thinking only of their needs and security.
People began neglecting their responsibility for service to the empire.
Many Roman citizens began to rebel against their rulers.
People felt that the decaying empire was not worth defending.