1. Section Four Fall of the Empire Objective: to identify 3 reasons
why and how the Empire fell.

2. The Pax Romana ended after about 200 years, conditions in the Roman Empire grew worse, and by 476 A.D., there was no “empire” left.
(1) Politically, the Roman Empire fell because the emperors had no written rule about who was to inherit the throne upon an emperor’s death. Commodus, became emperor when Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. He was so cruel and hated that in 192 A.D. he was strangled and the throne was sold to the highest bidder. For nearly 100 years, legion fought legion to put its own emperor on the throne. (causing “Crisis of the 3rd century)
(2) Economically, the Roman Empire fell because the emperor raised taxes in order to pay his soldiers high wages to keep them happy and supportive. The Romans began to suffer from inflation, or a period of ever-increasing prices. Many people began to barter, or exchange goods without using money.
(3) Thirdly, Rome fell because foreign enemies, Germanic hunters and herders from northern and central Europe, began to raid Greece and Gaul.

3. “SOCIETAL PROBLEMS IN ROME-Crisis of the 3rd century.”
Focus questions for
“SOCIETAL PROBLEMS IN ROME-Crisis of the 3rd century.”
Name 8 ideas that caused people to be dissatisfied with Rome?-
2. Note dates-events….

4. Societal Problems in Rome

5. Two emperors, Diocletian and Constantine I, tried very hard to
Two emperors, Diocletian and Constantine I, tried very hard to save the Roman Empire from collapse. Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to 305 A.D., fortified the frontiers and reorganized the governments. He also established the official policy of rule by divine right and divided the Roman Empire into two parts.
In 312 A.D., Constantine I became emperor and ruled until A.D. Constantine took even firmer control than Diocletian Despite the changes made by Diocletian and Constantine, the Roman Empire continued to decline in the west.
In 330 A.D., Constantine moved the capital from a dying Rome east to the newly built city of Constantinople in present-day Turkey. Neither Diocletian nor Constantine I succeeded to save the Roman Empire.
In 378 A.D., a Germanic group defeated Roman legions at the Battle of Adrianople. In 410 A.D., the Germanic chief Alaric and his soldiers invaded Rome, burning records and looting the treasury.
The Roman Senate told the people, “You can no longer rely on Rome for finance or direction. You are on your own.”

6. “THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE”
Focus Questions for
“THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE”
What relationship did Alaric want with the Romans?
Why did Alaric attack Rome?
What were his original demands of the Romans?
What did Alaric ask for after the Romans ignored the Goths?
How did the Goths get into the city of Rome?
What happened to the empire after the sack of Rome?
Name 3 things that changed in the western empire.
What kept the culture of the Roman Empire alive?

7. Fall of the RomanS:\Team Folders\Humanities\Nangle\united streaming videos for 7th\Fall of the Roman Empire.asx