Objectives: What problems weakened the empire in the 200s?

1. The Fall of Rome Main Idea Events and conditions inside as well as outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in the west in the 400s. • Objectives: • What problems weakened the empire in the 200s? • How did Diocletian and Constantine attempt to reform the empire? • What caused the invasion and ultimate fall of the empire in the 400s?

2. Weak Leaders Military Dictatorship • After 180, empire confronted by internal and external challenges • When last of Good Emperors died, Rome had no strong leader • Civil wars broke out • Rome under increasing threat of invasions on eastern, western frontiers • Emperors increased size of Rome’s army • Demands on financial resources, military caused economic crisis • Empire: military dictatorship • Legions deposed emperors, elevated own leaders to throne • Twenty emperors in 49 years; all but one died violently The Empire Weakens The Roman army’s inability to stop the Huns was one symptom of the weakness that befell the empire after the end of the Pax Romana.

3. Economic Troubles • Insecurity of civil wars, invasions affected Roman life • Robbery, piracy increased; travel hazardous • Merchants feared to ship goods • Military needs required more revenue; emperors raised taxes • Inflation • Value of money declined as taxes rose • Emperors minted new coins with copper, lead, and silver • People refused to accept currency at face value • Result was dramatic rise in prices, or inflation

4. Attempts at ReformEconomic Reforms Imperial economy and socity came under state direction with Diocletian (284ce) • Diocletian split the empire into two, the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. • Both ruled by a Caesar • Commercial, manufacturing activities geared toward needs of imperial defense • New tax system raised more money for government, army • Reforms drastic, successful • Saved empire from immediate economic collapse

5. State Control Diocletian Retires • Constantine continued state control over society • Made two profound decisions to affect direction of future empire: converted to Christianity; built new capital—Constantinople, “city of Constantine”—on site of village of Byzantium • Eastern half of empire richer, better defended and more powerful; Constantine wanted capital there • Diocletian’s initiatives worked well while he remained emperor • Diocletian, co-emperor retired, 305; two caesars rose to become co-emperors • New emperors quarreled; empire plunged into civil war • 312, order restored when Constantine declared emperor by his troops; put end to fighting Constantine

8. Fall of the West • 410 CE = Rome captured by Visogoth’sleader Allaric • 450 CE = Rome captured by Vandals • Vandal = “one who causes senseless destruction” • 476 CE = Last Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, overthrown by Odoacer • Many historians consider this the end of the Western Roman Empire

11. Eastern Empire • Despite western collapse, Eastern Empire endured for several centuries • People of Eastern Empire always thought of selves as Romans • Over time other influences, especially Greek, crept into culture • As a result of these influences, historians refer to the later period of the Eastern Empire by a new name, the Byzantine Empire.