View
214
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Fall of Rome
Why West Fell-Economic
• Small farmers abandoned land–Became workers on large estates–Lost desire to increase production
• Heavy, unjust taxation–Burdened people–Destroyed ambition to work and
progress• Widespread use of slaves• Debasing of currency
Why West Fell-Social
• People only interested in luxury & survival
• Ideals had almost vanished• Sharp class distinctions• Disease• Cities declined
– Previous centers of culture and industry– People fled to rural regions– Decline in infastructure
Why West Fell-Military
• Roman armies included German mercenaries
• Armies considered themselves masters of the state, not its servants
Why West Fell-Political
• Corrupt dictatorial government • Did not have people’s loyalty• Empire could not be governed
efficiently from one central city–Primitive transportation–Poor communication
• Rivalry over succession led to civil wars
Germanic Invasion
• Germans allowed to settle• Huns pushed more Germans in
– Visigoths in Spain– Ostrogoths in Italy– Vandals in North Africa– Franks in Gaul– Angles & Saxons in Britain
• 476AD-last Roman emperor• Other factors of decline made them
vulnerable to external attack.
Recommended