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The Western Empire Collapses

The Western Empire Collapses. Section 3. 7.1.1.

michaelrjones
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The Western Empire Collapses

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  1. The Western Empire Collapses Section 3

  2. 7.1.1 Study the early strengths and lasting contributions of Rome (e.g., significance of Roman citizenship; rights under Roman law; Roman art, architecture, engineering, and philosophy; preservation and transmission of Christianity) and its ultimate internal weaknesses (e.g., rise of autonomous military powers within the empire, undermining of citizenship by the growth of corruption and slavery, lack of education, and distribution of news).

  3. Background Knowledge • At its height, the Roman Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen. However, it was an empire weighed down with problems.

  4. Rome’s Internal Weakness • Diverse Population • Culture • Language • Little or no loyalty to Rome

  5. Expanding Citizenship • Citizenship – membership in a political community that bring rights and responsibilities • Did not solve economic problems

  6. Economic Problems • Corruption – using a position of trust for dishonest gain • Gap between rich and poor • Taxes

  7. Social Problems • Latifundia - wealthy estates which were self-sufficient “mini-towns” that raised their own food and hired guards to protect themselves • Poor became tenant farmers, army or outlaws • Cities were longer the center of Roman life

  8. A Weaker Army • Foreign recruits • Not as loyal as earlier troops • Less effective fighting force

  9. Threats from Outside the Empire • Threats on the eastern border of the Western Empire were over whelming.

  10. Barbarian Invasions • Huns A.D. 370 • Central Asia • Fierce horsemen • Attila • “the Scourge of God

  11. Barbarian Invasions • Attila A.D.430 • “the Scourge of God” • Invaded Gaul and Italy

  12. Barbarian Invasions • Visigoths • In 378, 40,000 Roman casualties • In 476 forced out last emperor • Ostrogoths • Germanic Tribes

  13. Barbarian Invasions

  14. New Germanic Kingdoms • Autonomous – self-governing kingdoms • Franks and Burgundians • Gaul • Visigoths • Spain • Ostrogoths • Italy

  15. New Germanic Kingdoms

  16. New Germanic Kingdoms • Clovis -king of the Franks who defeated the last Roman army in Gaul and the Visogoths • Frankish kingdom eventually became France and Belgium

  17. Why Did Rome Fall? • Internal weakness • Economic / Social • Decline of slavery • Christianity • Barbaric invasions

  18. Why Did Rome Fall? “Roman civilization did not die a natural death. It was murdered.”

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