Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Rome’s DeclineIt Matters Because:The Fall of Rome resulted

from political uproar, economic crises, & distant

wars

I. Why Rome CollapsedA.

Politics B. Economic

s

C. Invasion

s1. Government grew

weak; army grew powerful

2. Emperors often betrayed

3. Corrupt officials accepted bribes

4. Support for education declined

5. Many citizens stopped paying taxes

1. Roman soldiers & foreign invaders attacked farms & disrupted trade

2. Food prices soared due to shortages

3. Government produced more coins

1. Germanic tribes raided Western Empire

2. Germanic soldiers hired to protect empire

3. New immigrants had no loyalty to empire

BrainPop

II. DiocletianA. General who became emperor

B. Introduced many reforms1. Divided Empire into four parts, called the Tetrarchy2. Ordered citizens to remain at work3. Made local officials responsible for taxes

C. Reforms ultimately failed

Diocletian’s

Tetrarchy

III. ConstantineA. Succeeded Diocletian after 7 years of

conflict1. Became Christian following victory in battle2. Legalized Christianity in the Empire

B. Stabilized labor & economyC. Moved capital from Rome to ByzantiumD. Renamed Byzantium after himself, Constantinople

IV. Theodosius

A. Succeeded ConstantineB. Realized Empire was too large to govern C. Split Empire into Western & Eastern halves

1. Western capital in Rome2. Eastern capital in Constantinople

Western &

Eastern Empires

V. Visigoths & VandalsA. Visigoths settled within Rome’s borders

1. Seeking protection from Huns2. Promised loyalty to Rome

a. Rebelled when Rome began to enslave them3. Visigoth warrior Odoacer overthrew last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus, 476

B. Vandals attacked N. Africa & Spain1. Sailed to Rome, 4552. Looted & burned Rome

C. English word “vandalize” comes from this group

V. Visigoths & Vandals

5th Century Visigoth Warrior - identify elements of ancient and middle age technology

VI. The End of RomeA. Germanic leaders eventually achieved

high positions in EmpireB. In 476, Germanic general Odoacer overthrew last Roman Emperor

1. Germanic rulers adopted much of Roman culture, including Christianity

C. Byzantine Empire lasted nearly 1000 more years

VII. Rome’s LegacyA. Roman roads, strength of Catholic Church

led to spread of ChristianityB. Many Roman ideas about law shape Western law todayC. Representative governmentD. Latin language

1. alphabet still in use2. Latin roots in language

E. Architecture & construction - domes & arches, concrete