THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIREContributing factors

POLITICAL

Political office seen as burden, not reward

Military interference in politics

Civil war and unrest

Division of empire

Moving of capital to Byzantium

SOCIAL

Decline in interest in public affairs

Low confidence in empire

Disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption

Contrast between rich and poor

ECONOMIC Poor harvests

Disruption of trade

No more war plunder

Gold and silver drain

Inflation (drastic drop in the value of money coupled with a rise in prices)

Crushing tax burden

Widening gap between rich and poor, increasingly impoverished Western empire

MILITARY

Threat from northern European tribes

Low funds for defense

Problems recruiting Roman citizens; recruiting of non-Romans

Decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers

DIOCLETIAN

Restored order in the empire and increased its strength

He governed as an absolute ruler Doubled the size of the Roman

armies.

Drafting of prisoners of war and hiring German mercenaries.

Controlled inflation by setting fixed prices on certain goods.

Ordered farmers to remain on their lands and ordered workers to stay in their jobs for life.

Viewed Christianity as a threat and passed decrees to persecute the Christians.

DIVISION OF ROME

ROME

Between the two, which one included most of the empire’s wealth?

LATIN SPEAKINGWEST

GREEK SPEAKINGEAST

MAXIMIAN DIOCLETIAN

CONSTANTINE Diocletian retired in 305

AD and was succeeded by a young ambitious commander named Constantine.

Constantine Restored the concept of a

single ruler Ended the persecution of

the Christians Moved the Roman capital

from Rome to Byzantium and the city was given a new name.

WHAT WAS THAT NAME?

CONSTANTINOPLE

Pressure from Huns, Invasion by Germanic tribes and by the Huns, Sack of Rome, and Conquest by Invaders were the immediate causes of the Roman Fall.

Last Emperor of Rome A 14 year old named

Romulus Augustulus. He was deposed by the

German general Odoacer and sent into exile.

He practically had no powers. Spain (Visigoths) North Africa (Vandals) Gaul (Franks, Burgundians,

Visigoths) Britannia (Angles, Saxons) Italy (Ostrogoths)

START OF THE MIDDLE AGES

Eastern Half of the (fallen) Roman Empire would be known as the Byzantine until 1453 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks.

Middle Ages or medieval period Spanned 500-1500 The early part of the Middle Ages...

Money was scarce Cities were abandoned as centers of administration

ASSIGNMENT

What is a monastery? What does the word “secular” mean? Identify the Carolingian Dynasty. Who was Charlemagne? Why was he

important?