The Fall of the Roman Empire

1. The Fall of the Roman Empire Western Civilization December 6, 2012

2. Diocletian and Constantine • Political and Military Reforms • Enlarged the army • Employed more government officials to oversee Empire • Drained public funds • Declining tax-base led to devaluing of Roman currency • Economic and Social Reforms • Diocletian set wage and price controls • Forced workers to remain in their vocation (job) • Based on policies of CONTROL & COERCION

3. Internal Causes • Political • Empire grew too fast and became too large • Unclear process of succession • Became controlled by the Praetorian Guard • Division of the Empire weakened it • Economy and strong leaders were centered in the East • Economic • Public services drained funds – led to high taxes • Declining population led to lack of tax revenue • Suffering economy led the Empire to collapse internally • Agriculture declined – land came under the control of a few aristocrats

5. Internal Causes, cont. • Social • Roman patriotism disappeared • Too many “others” • Roman culture could not accept the influx of new cultures • Little loyalty to Roman government • Loss of morality • Hard times led Romans to think of themselves first, others second, and the Empire last • Christianity • Preached against emperor worship • Slavery created a vast body of unemployed Romans • Devastating epidemics

6. External Causes • Barbarian Invasions • Huns • Central Asia • Gothics • Pushed into Roman territory • Rose up when Rome failed to protect them (killed emperor) • Huns, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Lombards, Vandals, and Franks all entered the Empire • Rome sacked – 410 by the Visigoths • Rome sacked – 455 by the Vandals • 476, Odoacer declares himself king of Western Roman Empire

9. The East Survives • The division of the empire into East and West greatly weakened it • Economy was centered in the East • Was able to better defend itself from invasion • Remained intact, with Constantinople as its capital • Becomes known as the Byzantine Empire