The Fall of the Roman Empire

1. The Fall of the Roman Empire

2. Emperors After Augustus • Emperors After Augustus: Bad Emperors: Caligula Nero – persecuted Christians Good Emperors: Trajan – empire at its largest; vast building program Hadrian – reorganized the government/administration Antonius Pius – reigned during peace and prosperity Marcus Aurelias – brought empire to the height of economic prosperity

3. Marcus Aurelius • Last Emperor of the Pax Romana Dies without naming an heir Usually heir named and Senate approved Civil War breaks out from 234-284 AD 26 Emperors rule during this time Extremely bloody and violent time

4. Economy Weakens • Economy Weakened • Ran out of gold and silver • Started making coins with less silver and gold which led to Inflation (drop in value of money) • Agriculture suffered due to loss of fertile soil • War destroyed farmland • Disruption of trade – bandits and pirates • High taxes for everyone • Decline in population due to disease and food shortage

5. Military and Political Turmoil • Soldiers became loyal to generals instead of Rome • Generals fought amongst themselves for the throne • Mercenaries – hired foreign soldiers who fought for money to protect the Roman empire from increasing threats • Mercenaries didn’t care about the empire

6. Empire Split in Half • Diocletian believed the Empire was too large to be governed by one person • Split the Empire into West and East • Took the East for himself because of its greater wealth • Appointed Co-Emperor to West who reported back to Diocletian • Diocletian retired in 305 because of ill health Civil war broke out immediately

8. Constantine • Won control of the western empire in 312 • Won control of the east in 324 • Ruled both west and east alone 330 • Moves capital from Rome to Byzantium • Renamed Byzantium Constantinople • Ruled Empire from the West

9. Reasons for the Move • Closer to trade routes and major trade cities • More secure from attack • More Christian city • Constantine declared Christianity to be accepted in the Empire – Edict of Milan and is also considered the 1st Christian Emperor

10. Fall of the Western Empire • Following Constantine’s death, the empire was divided again. • The east survived but the west fell

11. Germanic Tribes & The Huns • Germanic tribes on northern border of empire coexisted for the most part with Rome • The Huns – Mongolian nomadic tribe from central Asia Destroyed everything in their path • Germanic tribes moved into Roman lands to get away from the Huns

13. Rome Attacked • Romans didn’t have an army that could stop the Germanic tribes • 410 – The Visigoths attacked Rome Battle of Adrianople – Visigoths beat Romans • Proved that Roman Empire was vulnerable to attack • Germanic tribes continued to attack and raid Roman Empire

14. Attila the Hun • 444, Huns united under Attila the Hun • Attacked and plundered 70 cities in the East, but could never get to Constantinople • Attila advanced to Rome but failed again due to bouts of disease and famine • 453 – Attila died but the Germanic tribes continued to attack the Roman Empire

15. Fall of Rome • Romulus Augustulus – 14 year old emperor of Rome was ousted by German forces in 476 • 476 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire Eastern half survived and flourished Eastern half called Byzantine Empire Lasted another 1,000 years • 1453 – fell to the Ottoman Turks