Decline of Rome

1. Decline of Rome SSWH3e- Analyze factors that led to the fall of Western Rome

2. End of PaxRomona • PaxRomana ends in 180 CE • Rome fell into a period of political instability and violence. • Emperors and generals try to seize power

3. End of PaxRomona • The Roman legions were no longer invincible. • Rather than citizen-soldiers, many soldiers were now mercenaries, foreigners who fought for pay.

4. Economic Problems • High taxes • Farm productivity falls • Small farmers moved to the estates of the wealthy, where they were not allowed to leave the land.

5. Split of the Empire • In 284, Emperor Diocletian set out to restore order in the empire. • He appointed a co-emperor,Maximian, and divided the empire in half to ease administration

6. Split of Empire • To curb inflation, Diocletian fixed prices on many goods and services. • Sons were required to follow their father’s occupation and farmers to remain on their land. • Inflation = Prices go up

7. Split of Empire • Emperor Constantine will permanently alter Rome and Europe. • He will move the Roman capital to Eastern Rome (Byzantine). • He will call the new capital Constantinople. • This shifted the Roman power to East Rome.

8. Attacks on Rome • Increasingly, the western Roman empire came under attack from nomads.

9. Attacks on Rome • Waves of invaders overwhelmed the Roman legions. • The Huns were the most feared of the invaders.

10. Rome falls • After multiple attacks from Barbarians, as well as political and economic stability, Western Rome will fall in 476 CE

11. Rome falls • Rome will be surrendered to invaders in 476 • The Goths, Huns, and Vandals had already over run much of the western empire.

12. Decline of Rome Military, economic, political, and social factors all contributed to Rome’s decline.

13. Lasting Impressions • Rome doesn’t completely die out with the fall of western Rome. • The eastern empire would last until the 1450s.