Chapter 15 section 4

EmperorsAnd The Fall of the Empire

Emperors of Rome

An emperor is an absolute ruler of an empire. An empire is a group of states, regions, or

countries, under 1 person’s absolute rule Rome had several emperors. Some were good

and some were terrible. Some emperors gained the throne through

adoption Others may have been put there by the

Praetorian Guard- the bodyguards that are to protect the emperor

Augustus

27 B.C.- A.D. 14- Julius Caesar’s nephew and heir

1st emperor Pax Romana- reforms, created peace Reorganized the government Patron of the arts No son- step son becomes his heir

Tiberius

A.D. 14- A.D. 37 2nd emperor Continued Augustus’s reforms Reformed taxes, cut luxury expenses to

improve finances of the empire

Caligula

A.D. 37-A.D. 41 Adopted by Tiberius Repaired roads and built aqueducts Made his own horse the consul of Rome

Claudius

A.D. 41-A.D. 54 Extended Rome into England Extended citizenship to more people Married his own niece who had him

murdered so her son could be emperor

Nero- last of Julius Caesar’s line

A.D. 54 to 68 A.D. Last emperor who was “related” to Julius

Caesar Murdered lots of family members Persecuted the Christians Rebuilt Rome after the fire in A.D. 64 He committed suicide

Flavius Vespasians

A.D. 69- A.D. 79 He established a new line of emperors Started the construction of the Coliseum Destroyed Jerusalem during a revolt He was followed by his son Titus (A.D. 79-

A.D. 81) Mt. Vesuvius erupts in August of A.D. 79

Domitian

A.D. 81- A.D. 96 Coliseum was completed under his reign

Trajan

A.D. 98- A.D. 117 1st non Italian to lead the empire Adopted by Nerva Aggressive foreign policy (Romanian,

Armenia, and Mesopotamia)

Hadrian

A.D. 117- A.D. 138 Built new towns Public works projects Reformed slavery system- illegal for a master to

put his own slave to death Built a wall as northern boundary- est. manmade

and /or natural boundaries in Empire

Marcus Aurelius

A.D. 161 – A.D. 180 One of the greatest emperors- the last of

“good” emperors Very kind and very fair Military leader Loved philosophy and wrote a book Last emperor of the Pax Romana

Commodos

A.D. 180- A.D. 192 Marcus Aurelius was his father He was very cruel and undid all the

reforms his father did. His guards killed him.

Diocletian

A.D. 284- A.D. 305 Rule by Divine right Economic reforms Divided empire (Eastern Roman Empire

and Western Roman Empire) to make it easier to rule

Constantine I

A.D. 312- A.D. 337 1st Roman emperor to convert to

Christianity Moved capital to Constantinople

Fall of the Empire

4 main reasons the Empire fell: Political Economic Social Foreign Invasions

Conditions get worse

Out of control spending Greedy emperors Inflation / High taxes Lack of consistent leadership and selection of emperors Fighting among Roman legions over support of

Emperors No new territories coming in to empire with wealth Money not worth much- causing citizens to have to go

back to a barter economy Growing crime rates and poverty

Attempts to save the Empire

Diocletian- Son of freedmen Fortify frontiers Reorganized government Set maximum prices for wages and goods All workers keep same jobs until they die Rule by Divine Right Divide Empire into 2 to make it easier to rule

Attempts to save the Empire

Constantine I- Workers had to follow their father’s trade Sons of farmers had to work their father’s

land Sons of ex-soldiers had to serve in army Moved capital out of Rome and created a

permanent split in the Empires

Political

Government not able to rule a vast empire- the government was set up to run a small city-state rather than an area as large as the Roman Empire

Lacked a fixed succession to the throne The divided empire lacked effective leadership- the best

leaders were in the Eastern Empire The Western Empire was in a state of decline and decay Selection over emperors- either civil wars, auction throne

to highest bidder Establish Rule by Divine Right

Economic

Rome needed money- the government had heavy expenses Levied heavy taxes on the people Emperors tried to fix prices to control businesses Crime increases Roads and bridges in disrepair Trade and manufacturing disappear- towns lose population Agriculture suffers- much land used as latifundias Inflation- money value is worthless Went to a system of barter- trade items for items instead of using

money

Social

Lack of loyal soldiers- no match for the well trained/ loyal German tribes

Mixture of cultures, religions, national groups Loss of patriotism and loyalty to Rome herself Christianity-new religion that taught against

worshipping the emperor Slave revolts Decline in health- epidemics break out

Foreign Invasions

Invaders able to break through the borders of Rome (The Huns, the Germanic Tribes)

Invention of the stirrup Rome was captured in A.D, 410 by the Visigoths Germanic tribes claimed large portions of Western

Empire Eastern half of empire was stronger and more

prosperous and able to resist outsiders Barbarians able to defeat the Roman army The Roman Senate declared the people were on their

own and they could no longer save them

After the fall ….

The Western Empire will go through 1000 year period called the “Middle Ages” where classical things such as art, architecture, philosophy, science, math, literature, and politics will be “forgotten” until the Renaissance.

The Church will play a big role in the political structure of many of the countries in Europe.

Western Europe will experience the Dark Ages.

The Eastern half of the empire will thrive and go on to great things and keep the classical knowledge alive and safe.

It will be known as the Byzantine Empire