Vocab

• Diocletian- Emperor of Rome who divided the Empire into 2 halves.

• Constantine- Emperor of Rome who made Christianity the religion of the Empire and shifted the capital from Rome to Byzantium.

• Constantinople- Formally named Byzantium, the city served as the Roman Empire’s new capital.

Warm Up

• Do you feel that America is in its ascendency or decline as a civilization? Why?

EQ

• EXPLAIN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE?

The Decline and Fall of Rome

The Decline of Rome• Roman decline begins 180

CE• Before decline Rome’s

economy was good! Very rich in gold and silver taken from conquered territories

• Great trade routes to Asia and Africa

• Farmers grew plenty of grain

• Then…

• Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt trade and cause expensive wars.

• Romans bought too many luxury items from India and China.

• Expansion of the Empire ends so no new sources of $ are created!

• So…

• To pay its debts, the government raises taxes!

1. (Economic) Harvests become poor because soil is overused. Farmers abandon the land because they can’t pay taxes.

• This causes inflation: Drop in the value of money accompanied by a rise in prices.

2. (Military) Military has problems with discipline and loyalty. They begin to lose! The government is forced to hire mercenaries: Paid soldiers from other countries who fought for less pay but were not loyal to the Empire.

3. (Political) There was no patriotism in the government. The rich were indifferent to the government. Officials lost money having to sponsor so many festivals! No one wanted to serve in the government because it was too expensive for them! The army then took over the government making it UNSTABLE!

• Amazingly, the empire remained intact for another 200 years because of reforms made by emperors.• Emperor Diocletian

• Took control in 284 AD• Restored order in the Empire and

increased its strength• Doubled the size of Roman

Army • Set fixed prices for goods-

controlled inflation• Forced famers to stay on their

land and other workers to stay in jobs for life

• Divided Roman Empire into an Eastern Half and Western Half.

Roman Empire is divided

WEST EAST

CIVIL WAR (312 AD)

CONSTANTINE-Gains control of West

• Latin Speaking• Italy, Gaul,

Britannia, Spain• Ruler: Maxamian

• Poor

• Greek Speaking• Greece, Anatolia,

Syria, Egypt• Ruler: Diocletian• Rich: Empires

greatest cities & trade centers

Fall of RomeCONSTANTINE

• Creates new capital in East• Secures control of East

• Single Ruler• Moves capital from Rome to

Byzantium…later renamed Constantinople

• Center of power shifts from west to east (324 AD)

• East would flourish • Byzantine Empire lasted

another 1000 years

• West would fall in 476 AD

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

• Detail chart

EQ

• EXPLAIN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE?

Closing

1. What were some of the major causes for the decline of Rome?

2. What effect did Diocletian have on Rome?

3. What were some differences between the Western and Eastern Roman Empire?

4. What is the significance of Constantine? What does he help flourish?