The The Fall of Fall of the the Roman Roman EmpireEmpire

7.67.6

InflationInflation*= rise in price caused by *= rise in price caused by

decrease in value of $decrease in value of $

*No more expansion = no more *No more expansion = no more new money.new money.

*Defense of borders and civil wars *Defense of borders and civil wars cost $$$$cost $$$$

*Daily life becomes harder for *Daily life becomes harder for peoplepeople

DiocletianDiocletian*General – made emperor in 284 AD*General – made emperor in 284 AD

*Realized empire was too large for *Realized empire was too large for one person to governone person to govern -appointed co-emperor and 2 -appointed co-emperor and 2

assistants: he controlled Eastassistants: he controlled East

*Attempted to improve the *Attempted to improve the economyeconomy

*Keys: defense and security of the *Keys: defense and security of the EmpireEmpire

Constantine•Won civil war in 324 AD

and reunited empire.•Supported Christianity after

vision on battlefield – eventually won battle.

•Created Constantinople•Empire weakens after his death

in 337.

Two Empires Two Empires

*A.D. 400: Two Empires *A.D. 400: Two Empires existexist

*West: Grew weaker*West: Grew weaker*East: center of power *East: center of power and wealthand wealth

*German tribes become a *German tribes become a problemproblem

Goths•Goths –flood into empire in late 300s.

•After poor treatment – crush large Roman army at Adrianople–Eastern emperor Valens killed in battle

•410 – King Alaric takes Rome–first time in 800 years.

Vandals•Sneak into border during Goth problems

•429 – invade North Africa•455 – sack Rome•Today: Vandal – means terrorize, destroy, steal, etc.

Vandal’s Sack of Rome

Huns•Nomads from Asia

–Attila: greatest Hun leader

•Took much of modern Austria and Hungary from Rome

•Lost to combined barbarian/Roman force in Gaul

AftermathAftermath*476 – Romulus Augustus: last *476 – Romulus Augustus: last emperor in Westemperor in West -“Fall of Roman Empire”-“Fall of Roman Empire”

*Eastern Empire remains until *Eastern Empire remains until 14531453

*Learning declined – libraries *Learning declined – libraries destroyed and technology lostdestroyed and technology lost

*Europe slips into Dark Ages*Europe slips into Dark Ages

Causes of Decline: Military •Barbarians pushing East

–Needed land to live on

•Romans need troops –Dependent on Barbarian recruits

•Generals: overthrowing one another to be emperor.

•Loss of loyalty to Rome

Causes: Political•Empire too large to control

•Burden of public service•Corruption/Unstable leadership–Government failed

Causes: Economic•Too expensive to defend borders

•Expansion stopped: no new $

•High Taxes •High Inflation

Causes: Social•Class differences

–Rich had power: Poor unhappy and growing

•Loss of patriotism•Loss of Values*Result: Europe in decay for 1,000 years till Renaissance in 1500s.

Fall of an EmpireFall of an Empire

1. Why did taxation 1. Why did taxation increase in the Empire? increase in the Empire? Who did this hurt the Who did this hurt the most?most?

2. What reforms did the 2. What reforms did the Emperor Diocletian try to Emperor Diocletian try to institute?institute?