1. Decline and Fall of Ancient Rome
Chapter 13.5 Objective:
By the end of this lesson you should be able to list the causes of the fall of the Roman Empire and explain how each contributed to weakening Rome.

3. 1. The empire was too big Eastern Roman Empire Western Roman Empire
Constantinople
Rome
Western
Roman
Empire

4. 1. The Empire was too big A. Border too large to defend
B. Soldiers became more like locals
C. Too much peace made army weak
D. Invasions by Germanic tribes beginning in 406 (also called “Barbarians”) Visigoths sack Rome in 410, the Vandals (Attila the Hun) sack again in 455

7. Invasions by Barbarians
Eastern Roman Empire stays together for 1000 years after the fall of Rome.

8. Barbarian Invaders

9. 2. Religious Problems

10. 2. Religious Problems Multiple religions didn’t get along
Different Christian groups fight for control
Emperor let people give property to the church—couldn’t tax it.
Clergy did not have to pay taxes
Church got more control over time

11. 3. Political Problems

12. 3. Political problems Civil wars between different groups
Some emperors inherited power but were not capable of ruling well
Some emperors were murdered
Too many slaves working farms = unemployment of Romans and slave revolts.

13. 4. Social Problems

15. 4. Social Problems
Rich (Patricians) did not care about solving problems.
Poor paid too many taxes, were unhappy
Population shrinking due to starvation and disease (Plague of CE kills ¼ to ½ the Roman empire’s population)
Gold and silver mines exhausted. Barter economy by 280 C.E. = less trade