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Section 6-5

Section 6-5. Roman Decline. The Empire’s Problems. Political Instability Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus was mentally unstable and bankrupted the treasury.

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Section 6-5

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  1. Section 6-5 Roman Decline

  2. The Empire’s Problems • Political Instability • Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus was mentally unstable and bankrupted the treasury. • This ushered in an era of instability during which Rome’s armies were busier fighting each other than protecting the borders from barbarians.

  3. The Empire’s Problems 2. Economic Decline • Warfare disrupted trade and production of goods; destroyed farmland causing food shortages. • Because people were making less money and prices for goods were rising, the empire minted more coins

  4. The Empire’s Problems • With more coins being minted, the percentage of gold and silver in each coin had to be cut, leading the coins to be worth less than they once were; this led to inflation- a rise of prices tied to a decrease in the value of money. • To keep the army fighting, the government had to pay them more and raise taxes on land owners.

  5. Unsuccessful Reforms • Several emperors tried to stop the empire from spiraling out of control in the late 200s and early 300s AD. • Diocletian (r. 284-305 AD) • Constantine (r. 312-337 AD) • Theodosius (337- 395 AD) • Note: These reigns are approximate. Because of the dividing of the empire, several Caesars reigned at the same time.

  6. Unsuccessful Reforms • Diocletian (r. 284-305 AD) • Expanded the army to stop barbarian invasions. • Divided the empire into administrative sections (2 units, each with a sub emperor, known to historians as the Tetrarchy). • Edict of Prices- wage and prices freezes

  7. Unsuccessful Reforms • Constantine (r. 312-337 AD) • Continued Diocletian’s reforms • Moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium the city became known as Constantinople.

  8. Unsuccessful Reforms • Theodosius (r. 337-395 AD) • Divided the empire into 2 sections to make it easier to govern. • Western part: Roman Empire; Eastern part: Byzantine Empire

  9. Barbarian Invasions

  10. Barbarian Invasions • Came to Italy for: warmer climate and better grazing land. • Often fought among each other, only unifying feature was language. • Visigoths: • most important group to hold control over Roman territory in the 400s AD • 410 AD-Alaric led his men into Italy sacking and capturing Rome.

  11. Barbarian Invasions • The Huns • From the steppes of central Asia • Romans combined with the Visigoths to fight the Huns off in 451 AD. • Plague and famine took their toll on the Huns and when Attila died in 453 AD, they retreated to Eastern Europe.

  12. End of the Empire • Vandals sacked and plundered Rome in 455. • Franks and Goths divided Gaul among themselves. • In 476, the last Roman Emperor in the West, Romulus Augustulus was deposed by a German soldier named Odoacer, and he proclaimed himself king of Italy.

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