The Fall of the Roman The Fall of the Roman EmpireEmpire

Chapter 6, Section 4Chapter 6, Section 4

A Century in CrisisA Century in Crisis

End of Marcus Aurelius’ reign as End of Marcus Aurelius’ reign as emperor (A.D. 161-180) brought emperor (A.D. 161-180) brought about end of about end of Pax RomanaPax Romana. Ruler’s . Ruler’s after Marcus Aurelius had no idea after Marcus Aurelius had no idea how to deal with the giant empire how to deal with the giant empire and its problems.and its problems.

Rome’s Economy WeakensRome’s Economy Weakens

Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt trade.trade.Empire at limit of expansion and Empire at limit of expansion and lacks new sources of gold and silver.lacks new sources of gold and silver.– empire raised taxes as a resultempire raised taxes as a result– empire minted coins with less silverempire minted coins with less silver

inflation resultedinflation resulted

Rome’s Economy WeakensRome’s Economy Weakens

Agriculture faced serious problemsAgriculture faced serious problems– Harvests were increasingly meager Harvests were increasingly meager

because soil lost fertility.because soil lost fertility.– Years of war destroyed farmland.Years of war destroyed farmland.

Serious food shortages, disease, and Serious food shortages, disease, and population decline resulted.population decline resulted.

Military and Political TurmoilMilitary and Political Turmoil

Roman military in disarrayRoman military in disarray– less disciplined soldiersless disciplined soldiers– allegiance to commanders, not to Rome itselfallegiance to commanders, not to Rome itself– recruiting of mercenaries who were less loyal recruiting of mercenaries who were less loyal

to Rometo Rome Less loyalty among average citizensLess loyalty among average citizens

– Earlier Romans cared more about the Republic.Earlier Romans cared more about the Republic. Later Romans lose their sense of Later Romans lose their sense of

patriotism.patriotism.

Emperors Attempt ReformEmperors Attempt Reform Diocletian Reforms the EmpireDiocletian Reforms the Empire

– Becomes emperor in 284.Becomes emperor in 284.– Severely limits personal freedoms.Severely limits personal freedoms.– Doubles size of Roman army.Doubles size of Roman army.– Controls inflation by price fixing.Controls inflation by price fixing.– Divides the empireDivides the empire

Greek speaking East (takes for himself)Greek speaking East (takes for himself) Latin-speaking West (appoints a co-ruler)Latin-speaking West (appoints a co-ruler)

– Kept overall control.Kept overall control.– Retired in A.D. 305, but civil war broke out.Retired in A.D. 305, but civil war broke out.– Four rivals competed for control, including the Four rivals competed for control, including the

commander Constantinecommander Constantine

Emperors Attempt ReformEmperors Attempt Reform

Constantine Moves the CapitalConstantine Moves the Capital– A.D. 312 Constantine gains control of the A.D. 312 Constantine gains control of the

western part of the empire.western part of the empire.– A.D. 324 he secures the eastern empire A.D. 324 he secures the eastern empire

and the system of a single ruler.and the system of a single ruler.– A.D. 330 Constantine moves the capital A.D. 330 Constantine moves the capital

from Rome to Byzantium on the Bosporus from Rome to Byzantium on the Bosporus Strait between Europe and Asia.Strait between Europe and Asia.

– The center of power shifts from Rome to The center of power shifts from Rome to the east.the east.

The Western Empire The Western Empire CrumblesCrumbles

– Germanic InvasionsGermanic Invasions A.D. 370 the Huns move into Europe causing A.D. 370 the Huns move into Europe causing

the Germanic peoples to flee into Roman the Germanic peoples to flee into Roman territory.territory.

A.D. 410 Germans invade and overrun Rome A.D. 410 Germans invade and overrun Rome itself and plunder it for three days.itself and plunder it for three days.Attila the HunAttila the Hun

In 444 the Huns unite under Attila and In 444 the Huns unite under Attila and terrorize both halves of the empire.terrorize both halves of the empire.

In 452 the Huns advance against Rome, but In 452 the Huns advance against Rome, but fail in conquering the city due to famine and fail in conquering the city due to famine and disease.disease.

Attila dies in 453.Attila dies in 453.

The Western Empire The Western Empire CrumblesCrumbles

– An Empire No MoreAn Empire No More 14-year-old emperor Romulus Augustulus 14-year-old emperor Romulus Augustulus

ousted by Germananic forces in 426. ousted by Germananic forces in 426. Roman power in the western half of the Roman power in the western half of the

empire ceases to exist.empire ceases to exist. The eastern half of the empire comes to be The eastern half of the empire comes to be

called the Byzantine Empire, and flourishes called the Byzantine Empire, and flourishes for 1,000 years.for 1,000 years.

The Byzantine emperors ruled from The Byzantine emperors ruled from Constantinople.Constantinople.

The Byzantine emperors saw themselves as The Byzantine emperors saw themselves as heirs to the power of Augustus Caesar.heirs to the power of Augustus Caesar.