1. Section 5: Decline & Fall

2. Targets
Explain why the Roman Empire gained a new lease on life under Diocletian and Constantine.
Analyze how ferocious warriors from Asia and Germany finally brought an end to the Roman Empire.

4. I. The Decline
180 A.D. a period of conflict & confusion

5. Political Upheavals
From 235 to 284, 22 emperors occupied the Roman throne
20 of these emperors met violent death
Series of invasions

6. Economic & Military Problems
Invasions, civil wars & plague caused an economic collapse of the Roman Empire
Decline in trade & small industry
labor shortage

7. Economic & Military Problems
Plague (epidemic disease) affected both military & economy
Farm production declined
Financial strains made it difficult to pay soldiers

8. II. The Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine
End of 3rd century & beginning of 4th two emperors helped the Empire
New governmental structure, rigid economic & social system & new state religion, Christianity

9. The Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine
Diocletian divided the empire into four units
Both rulers strengthened & enlarged the administrative bureaucracies

10. The Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine
Political & military reforms greatly enlarged the army & civil service
inflation - a rapid increase in prices

11. The Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine
Constantine constructed a new capital city in the east, the Greek city of Byzantium
renamed it Constantinople
Called it his “New Rome”
built large palaces & forum

13. The Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine
Temporally successful, such policies in the long run stifled the very vitality the Late Empire needed to revive its sagging fortunes

14. III. The Fall
Capital of the Western Roman Empire remained Rome
Constantinople remained the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire
Pressure from invading Germanic tribes

15. Maps and Charts 4

16. The Fall
The Germanic Visigoths, crossed the Danube River
378 Visigoths defeated the Romans
in 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome
Vandals poured into Spain

18. Maps and Charts 4

19. The Fall
455 the Vandals, sacked Rome
476 the western emperor was disposed
The Eastern Empire or Byzantine Empire continued to thrive

20. IV. Why did Rome Fall
Christianity’s spiritual kingdom weakened Roman military virtues
Traditional Roman values declined, as non-Italians gained prominence

21. Why did Rome Fall
Lead poisoning in leaden water pipes caused mental decline
Plague wiped out 1/10 of the population
Failed to advance technology because of slavery

22. Why did Rome Fall
Unable to put together a workable political system

24. Analyzing Maps and Charts

25. Augustus
Marcus Aurelius
almost a hundred years

26. the Western Empire
the Eastern Empire
Byzantium
Illyricum