Section Four: The Fall of the Roman Empire

I. A Century of Crisis• end of Pax Romana marked by end of the

reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)• following rulers had no idea how to deal w/

giant empire and its problems

A. Rome’s Economy Weakens• During its 3rd century of existence, several

factors began to weaken the Roman economy1. Pirates & hostile tribes along borders

disrupt trade2. Reached limit of expansion, lacked new

sources of gold and silver3. Desperate for money, gov’t raised taxes4. Inflation—drastic drop in value of money

coupled w/ a rise in prices

5. Agriculture also faced serious problems—overworked soil started to produce less crops along w/ years of war destroying farmland

6. Serious food shortage and disease began to spread, and population declined

B. Military and Political Turmoil• soldiers once again became disloyal, gave

allegiance to commanders• Commanders fought amongst themselves to

become emperor• gov’t recruited mercenaries— foreign soldiers

who fought for money• Citizens lost sense of loyalty/pride in their

empire- no longer cared what happened to the empire

II. Emperors Attempt Reforms•Rome able to survive for another 200 years

due to reform minded emperors and division of the empire

Diocletian

A. Diocletian Reforms the Empire• Diocletian- strong willed army leader became

emperor in 284 AD• Reforms:• Strict, limited personal freedoms• doubled the army• set fixed prices on some goods• restored prestige of the emperor, claimed he

was a descendent of gods• most significant reform- division of empire

into Greek speaking East and Latin Speaking West

• Eastern Empire- Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt•Western Empire—Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain• Diocletian ruled East, assigned a co-ruler for west,

but kept overall control over both halves • Eastern half contained most major cities and was

far wealthier than west • Diocletian forced to retire due to ill health in 305

AD= civil war broke out

The Split of the Roman Empire

B. Constantine Moves the Capital• 312 AD- Constantine gained control of western empire • 324 AD- Constantine reunited empire• 330 AD- moved capital from Rome to Byzantium in present day

Turkey• Name changed to Constantinople, or city of Constantine • After Constantine’s death empire would again be divided- east

would survive while west collapsed

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III. The Western Empire Crumbles• collapse of western empire would take

many years• final collapse result of 3 main problems:

1. worsening internal problems ($$$$)2. the separation of the Western empire3. outside invasion

A. Germanic Invasions• Germanic tribes lived on edge of

Empire’s borders peacefully for 100’s of years• 70 AD- group of Huns invaded

Germanic lands= Germanic tribes flee into Roman lands• Romans referred to Germanic invaders

as barbarians—all non Romans • Romans not able to stop Germanic

tribes who eventually made it to Rome, plundered Rome for 3 days

B. Attila the Hun• 444- Huns united for first time

under a powerful chief, Attila• Huns terrorized both halves of

empire, defeating many cities in east and west• failed to take either

Constantinople or Rome • After Attila’s death Huns no

longer a threat, but Germanic invasions continued to weaken Roman Empire

C. An Empire No More• last Roman Emperor, 14 year old boy Romulus

Augustulus, ousted by Germanic forces in 476• Western empire had finally completely

collapsed- Eastern half survived, flourished • Eastern half known as Byzantine Empire• new empire preserved Greek and Roman

culture for another 1,000 years

• Even though Rome’s political power in the west had ended, its cultural influence had not- its ideas, customs, and institutions influenced development of western culture even to present times