Fall of Rome

1. Fall of Rome

2. Fall of Roman Empire • Third century AD, Rome faced many problems • Came from within and from the outside • Marcus Aurelius – He marked the end of PaxRomana (180 AD)

3. Economy • Trade became disrupted – tribes invaded • Rome reached their limit of expansion so could not depend on more gold and silver • Economy suffered from inflation – prices rose, value of money dropped • Soil lost its fertility – led to food shortages • Disease

4. Military and Political • Military in disarray • Roman soldiers gave allegiance to their commanders, not Rome • Roman Empire hired mercenaries – foreign soldiers who fought for money. Paid less than Roman soldiers • Citizens also lost loyalty • With everything happening, they just didn’t care

5. Diocletian • Became emperor 284 AD • Strict ruler/reforms – limited freedoms • Restored order • Doubled the army • Believed the empire had grown too big • Divided empire into East (Greek) and West (Latin) • He keeps overall control, but shares power in West • He rules the East • Became ill – civil war broke out

6. Constantine • Takes over in 312 AD • Restored back to one ruler again • Moved the capital city from Rome to Byzantium

7. Constantine • City took on a new name of Constantinople • After his death, empire divided again! • East survived • West fell

8. Western Empire Crumbles 370 AD – invaded by Mongol nomads from N Asia – Huns Germans attacked from the North

9. Western Empire Crumbles Attila the Hun • United the Huns • 100,000 soldiers • Terrorizes both East/West Empires • 70 cities plundered in East -- Constantinople survives • Advanced on Rome in 452 AD • Didn’t conquer – Famine - Disease

10. Eastern Empire Remains Final emperor – Romulus Augustulus (14) West is completely gone, East is renamed -Byzantine Lasted 1000 years Preserved Greek and Roman Culture