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The Fall of Rome. A Century of Crisis. The end of Marcus Aurelius’ reign marked the end of 200 years of peace and prosperity. Later emperors had little or no idea of how to deal with the giant empire and its growing problems.
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A Century of Crisis • The end of Marcus Aurelius’ reign marked the end of 200 years of peace and prosperity. • Later emperors had little or no idea of how to deal with the giant empire and its growing problems. • During the 200s, the empire experienced dreadful confusion and civil war. • It also became difficult to collect taxes and money was so scarce that people often paid their taxes in grain.
Rome’s Economy Weakens • Several factors prompted the weakening of the economy. • Hostile tribes and pirates disrupted trade, Rome lacked new sources of gold and silver and the government started minting coins that contained less gold and silver. • When the people realized that their coins had less gold in them, they refused to accept them at face value.
Agriculture also had problems. • Harvests in Italy and Western Europe became increasingly meager because the land was overworked and years of war had destroyed farmland. • Serious food shortages and disease started to spread.
Military and Political Turmoil • The military was also in disarray. Overtime, soldiers had become less disciplined and loyal. • To defend the empire against increasing threats, the government recruited mercenaries. • Feelings of loyalty also weakened among the average citizens.
Emperors Attempt Reform • Rome survived for another 200 years and it was largely due to reform-minded emperors and the division of the empire. • Diocletian was a strong willed army commander who became emperor in 284 and ruled with an iron fist.
Diocletian • He severely limited personal freedoms but did restore order to the empire. • He doubled the size of the army and sought to control inflation.
Constantine Moves the capital • Constantine gained control of the western part of the empire in 312 and in 324 he also secured control of the eastern part. • In 330, Constantine moved the capital to the Greek city of Byzantium. Eventually the city would take a new name-Constantinople or city of Constantine. • After Constantine’s death in 337, the empire enjoyed some 50 years of stability but it wouldn’t last.
The Western Empire Crumbles • The decline of the Western Roman Empire took place over many years and its final collapse was the result of worsening internal problems, the separation of the empire and outside invasions. • Germanic Invasions-Around 370 the Germanic tribes started moving into Roman lands to escape the fierce Mongol nomads known as the Huns.
The Germanic people moved through Gaul, Spain and North Africa and in 410 a group of them overran Rome and plundered it for 3 days. • Attila the Hun-in 444 the Huns united under a powerful chieftain for the first time ever. • In the east, Attila’s army plundered 70 cities but were unable to scale the walls of Constantinople. • In the west they advanced towards Rome but bouts of famine and disease kept them from taking Rome.
An Empire no longer • The last Roman Emperor, 14 year old Romulus Augustulus, was ousted by Germanic forces in 476. After this Roman power in the west disappeared. • The eastern half, known as the Byzantine Empire, lasted for another 1,000 years. • Even though Rome’s political power in the west was over, its cultural influence was not.
