• 12/17 Focus-– Events and conditions inside and

outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in 476 AD.

• Do Now: – Identify the role Paul of Tarsus played in

the establishment of the early Christian church.

Review• Fill in the Venn diagram by identifying the characteristics that are unique to

Judaism and Christianity on the left or right and the similar characteristics in the center.

Monotheistic

Torah New Testament

10 Commandments

BibleSalvation by following the teachings of Jesus

Formed from the beliefs of the Hebrews

Ancient RomeThe Fall of Rome

The Fall of Rome• Pax Romana comes to end

when Emperor Marcus Aurelius dies

• Weak leadership could not solve problems facing the empire– Economic crisis – Increasing threats of invasion

from eastern and western borders– 20 Emperors between 235 -284

AD• All but 1 died violently

Attempts at Reform• Emperors Diocletian and Constantine

attempt to reform Rome and slow its decline

Diocletian Constantine

Division of the Empire

• The Emperor Diocletian divides the Empire into the East and West– Appoints a co-emperor

to run the west– Wanted to make the

empire easier to manage by reducing its size

– Increases his own power over the government and society

– Tax increases and manufacturing activities geared toward defending the empire

Moving the Capital • The Emperor

Constantine issues the Edict of Milan – Makes

Constantinople the capital of the Roman Empire• Located in modern

day Turkey• Eastern Empire was

richer from trade and better protected from barbarian invasions

Reasons for the Fall

of Rome

Social

Political

Economic

Military

Political Causes

• Government became too strict and oppressive– People did not

support the government

• Civil War and unrest

• Division of the empire weakened Rome

• Imperialism– Roman expansion

increased number of enemies

Social Causes• People not interested

in public affairs– Apathy

• Decline in patriotism and loyalty to Rome

• Rise of Christianity– People started to follow

the church leaders rather than government

Economic Decline

• Did not have riches from war plunder• very high taxes on people– Needed to support the government and defend

the empire• Inflation– Dramatic rise in prices and devaluing of

currency• Heavy reliance on slave labor • High unemployment of the working class– Could not compete with low cost of goods from

foreign trade– Plebs became dependent on assistance from

the government

Military • Rome became too big to defend• Roman army became

undisciplined and lacked training• Romans forced to hire foreign

mercenaries– Soldiers who fight for whoever will

pay them rather than loyalty to a country or idea

• Invasions by Germanic tribes and Huns(375-410 AD)– Romans referred to them as

barbarians– 476 AD Germanic tribes attack

Rome and overthrow the Roman Emperor• This is marked as the end of the

Roman Empire

•

Closure

• Identify two ways that Diocletian and Constantine attempted to slow the decline of Rome.

• What can we learn as a powerful nation in the world from the fall of the Roman Empire?