2. Introduction Question ► How do people respond today to difficult economic or political instability?

3. Our Mission ► To summarize the decline of the Roman Empire ► To describe the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine ► To trace the fall of the Western Roman Empire

4. The End of the Pax Romana ► Death of Marcus Aurelius (161 – 180 C.E.) ► Marks the decline of the Roman Empire

6. Factors leading to the Decline ► Economic Problems ► Military Problems ► Political Problems

7. Economic Problems ► Trade disrupted due to hostile barbarian tribes and Mediterranean pirates ► Lack of new gold & silver sources ► Solution: Raised taxes  Problem: Inflation ► Agriculture suffers due to overworked soil & war  Result: Food shortages

8. Military & Political Problems ► Roman soldiers less loyal & disciplined ► Allegiance to generals vs. Rome ► Mercenaries/barbarians recruited to protect the Roman Empire ► Roman citizens lose patriotism  Result: Indifference

10. The coming of the Barbarians

12. Reform-Minded Emperors ► Diocletian (C.E. 284)  Strict rule w/ limited personal freedoms  Restores strength & order  Doubles army size  Claims divinity to gain respect  Divides empire into Latin west and Greek east ► Constantine (C.E. 312)  Gains control of Western Empire in 312  Gains control of entire empire in 324  Moves capital from Rome to Byzantium 330  Switches for trade and protection purposes  East now more wealthier and powerful

14. Constantinople

15. Fall of the Western Roman Empire ► Roman Empire always surrounded by Germanic tribes to the North ► Germanic tribes pushed by the Huns in C.E. 370 ► Barbarians (non-Romans) push into Western Empire ► C.E. 410 Barbarians sack Rome

17. Attila the Hun ► Unites Huns in C.E. 444 (Mongol nomads) ► Terrorizes both halves of the Roman Empire till C.E. 453 (death of Attila)

18. Fall of the Roman Empire ► Western Empire  Falls in C.E. 476 to Germanic forces  Splits into various provinces (modern Europe) ► Eastern Empire  Preserves Greco-Roman culture  Falls in C.E. 1453 to the Ottoman Empire