Key Terms

Emperor Diocletian

Emperor Constantine

Barbarian Invaders

Coach Smith

Coach Smith

The Romans had conquered a vast empire.

In 284 A.D., the Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman empire into two parts: an eastern section and a western section.

Diocletian felt the Roman Empire was too big for one person to effectively govern.

Ruling such a vast empire was difficult.

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Coach Smith

Emperor Diocletiandivided the Roman

empire into twoparts.

In 306 A.D., the emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium in Asia Minor.

Constantine renamed his new capital Constantinople.

Constantinople had a good location for trade.

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Coach Smith

Emperor Constantine moved the capitalof the Roman Empire from Rome to

Constantinople.

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Can you find Constantinople on this map?

For hundreds of years, Germanic tribes invaded the Roman Empire.

The Romans called these Germanic tribesmen Barbarians.

The term “Barbarian” was ethnocentric and insulting.

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Coach Smith

The Roman army even built a walltrying to prevent the Barbarians from

invading.

When the Huns (a central Asian tribe) attacked the Germanic tribes, the Germanic tribes were pushed into the Roman Empire.

At first, the Romans let the Visigoths (a Barbarian tribe) move within their empire.

However, the Visigoths had to promise not to bring their weapons.

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Coach Smith

However, theVisigoths didnot keep their

promise.

In 378 A.D. at the Battle of Adrianople, the Roman army was defeated by the Visigoths.

It was the first time, Rome could not defend itself.

In 476 A.D., the western Roman empire fell.

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Coach Smith

Barbarian invaders, corrupt emperors, and high taxes were just some of the

reasons for the fall of Rome.

Who was Diocletian and what did he do to the Roman Empire?

Where did Constantine move the capital and why did he move the capital?

Define Barbarians. Why is the Battle of Adrianople important? List three factors for the fall of Rome. When did Rome fall?

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Making Connections: Some historians say that the United

States is on the same path of the Roman Empire. Do you see patterns that can help you draw a conclusion?

In a 3-4 paragraph essay discuss whether or not you believe the U.S is following in Rome’s footsteps.

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