Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Diocletian Constantine

The Huns

The DeclineProblems and Upheavals

Political upheavals, the plague, and the division of the empire led to its decline

After Marcus Aurelius died in 180 A.D. Rome had a period of conflict, confusion, and civil war

For 50 years, the Roman throne was occupied by whoever had military strength to seize it 22 emperors, most died violently

Invasions East: Sassanid Persian Germanic tribes

Problems and Upheavals

Invasions, civil wars, and plague almost caused an economic collapse in the third century

Plague: An epidemic disease Caused a labor shortage, which led to a decline in trade

Farm production declined Because crops were ravaged by invaders

By the mid-third century, Rome had to hire Germans to fight The didn’t understand Roman traditions and had little

loyality to the empire or emperors

Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine

Two emperors that helped restore the Roman empire

This new Roman empire included: A new governmental structure A rigid economic and social system New state religion: Christianity

Diocletian divided the empire into four units, each with its own ruler under his rule

Constantine expanded the policies of DiocletianBiggest project was the building of

Constantinople, present day Istanbul, Turkey This “new” Rome became the center of the Eastern Empire

Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine

The lack of population made it difficult to raise and pay for an army through taxes

Inflation: A rapid increase in taxes Diocletian issued a price edict in 301 that set

wages and prices of goods Idea failed

The emperors also forced people to stay in their vocations, or style of jobs

The Fall and Germanic Tribes

The migration of Germanic tribes helped bring an end to the Roman Empire

The restored empire of Diocletian and Constantine lasted for more than 100 years

Divided into two parts Eastern Roman Empire: Capital was Constantinople Western Roman Empire: Capital was Rome

The Huns, from Asia, entered the empire to the east and put pressure on the Germanic Visigoths Visigoths were Roman allies then revolted against Rome

Germanic Tribes

More Germans now crossed into the Roman empire

In 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410The Vandals poured into southern Spain and Africa

In 455, the sacked Rome The words vandal and vandalize come from this tribe

The western empire (Rome) fell in 476 when its emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic head of the Army

The eastern empire continued to thrive in Constantinople

Theories on the decline of the Roman Empire

Christianity’s emphasis on a spiritual kingdom weakened Roman military values

Traditional Roman values declined as non-Italians gained prominence in the empire

Lead poisoning through leaden water pipes and cups caused a mental decline in the population

Plague wiped out one-tenth of the populationRome failed to advance technologically due to

slaveryRome could not create a workable political

system