The Decline of the The Decline of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

How could this mighty empire How could this mighty empire come to an end?come to an end?

Was it the corruption of the government?Was it the corruption of the government? Was it economic collapse?Was it economic collapse? Was it the invasion of the Huns?Was it the invasion of the Huns?

All of the above.All of the above.

The decline happened The decline happened slowlyslowly over over centuries, from 200 -476 A.D. centuries, from 200 -476 A.D.

Political ProblemsPolitical Problems After 180 A.D., After 180 A.D., Pax RomanaPax Romana ended. Violence & ended. Violence &

corruption took over as weak emperors bankrupted corruption took over as weak emperors bankrupted the government.the government.

28 emperors ruled from 192 to 284 A.D. (only 92 yrs). 28 emperors ruled from 192 to 284 A.D. (only 92 yrs). Most were killed off. Most were killed off.

During this political disorder, Roman legions fought During this political disorder, Roman legions fought each other instead of defending the empire.each other instead of defending the empire.

This warfare disrupted trade. Food shortages, high This warfare disrupted trade. Food shortages, high costs and unemployment began. (=economic costs and unemployment began. (=economic collapse)collapse)

EconomicEconomic Romans used to get money by conquering new lands. As Romans used to get money by conquering new lands. As

the Roman empire stopped expanding, no new sources of the Roman empire stopped expanding, no new sources of gold and silver were coming in. gold and silver were coming in.

Money was needed to maintain the huge empire. Money was needed to maintain the huge empire. ArmyArmy Buildings & RoadsBuildings & Roads

To cope with the economic problems, the gov. minted new To cope with the economic problems, the gov. minted new coins made of cheaper copper & tin instead of silver & coins made of cheaper copper & tin instead of silver & gold, so the value decreased, causing inflation.gold, so the value decreased, causing inflation.

What is What is inflationinflation? It is an ? It is an increase in pricesincrease in prices caused by a caused by a decrease in value of a currency.decrease in value of a currency.

Two “good” EmperorsTwo “good” Emperors

These emperors stalled the collapse of the empire These emperors stalled the collapse of the empire for about 200 years until 476 A.D.for about 200 years until 476 A.D.

Diocletian Diocletian held off invading barbarian tribes & held off invading barbarian tribes & created a “co-emperor”. He froze prices (penalty created a “co-emperor”. He froze prices (penalty for breaking this law was death). He forced people for breaking this law was death). He forced people to stay in their jobs forever.to stay in their jobs forever.

ConstantineConstantine: the first Christian emperor. He : the first Christian emperor. He created an eastern capital named Constantinople created an eastern capital named Constantinople (today Istanbul in Turkey) a good trading port. (today Istanbul in Turkey) a good trading port. Forced sons to take the same job as their father. Forced sons to take the same job as their father. He allowed landowners to chain workers to keep He allowed landowners to chain workers to keep them on the farm.them on the farm.

In 395 A.D. the empire was officially split in two.In 395 A.D. the empire was officially split in two.

Constantine had divided the empire in half, each ruled by a co-emperor, with the eastern emperor in Constantinople as

the senior partner

The two halves would gradually drift apart and

become, by 395, basically independent political entities

Fatal development for the West

65% of all revenue came from the East but 66% of the entire

army was stationed in the West

Result was horrible and insoluble financial crisis in the

West

Troops went unpaid, supplies could not be purchased, bribes could not be paid to barbarian

chiefs, etc.

Division of the Empire into two independent halves left the Western half very weak and

vulnerable—just as the Germans were renewing their attacks on the frontier again

THE GERMANSTHE GERMANS Migrated out of Migrated out of

Scandinavia and Scandinavia and northeastern Russia northeastern Russia 500 BC500 BC

Since the start of the Since the start of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Romans and German Romans and German barbarians influenced barbarians influenced each other, mostly each other, mostly through trade.through trade.

Germans began to Germans began to enlist in the Roman enlist in the Roman army in the 3army in the 3rdrd century ADcentury AD

THE HUNSTHE HUNS

Huns forced huge German migrationHuns forced huge German migration Nomadic people from Gobi DesertNomadic people from Gobi Desert Expert horsemenExpert horsemen Tried to invade China around 370 AD and were defeatedTried to invade China around 370 AD and were defeated

Then turned westward and ultimately entered northern EuropeThen turned westward and ultimately entered northern Europe Terrorized German tribes who lived thereTerrorized German tribes who lived there Germans migrated south to escape themGermans migrated south to escape them

Around 400 AD, Around 400 AD, entire tribes entire tribes (Ostrogoths, (Ostrogoths, Visogoths, Huns, Visogoths, Huns, Vandals) began to Vandals) began to move into the move into the empire empire simultaneously.simultaneously.

Capturing huge Capturing huge chunks of territory, chunks of territory, settling there, and settling there, and setting up kingdomssetting up kingdoms

In 451, the Visogoths & In 451, the Visogoths & Romans joined together to fight Romans joined together to fight the Huns.the Huns.

Attila turned on Italy, Attila turned on Italy, plundering the cities and plundering the cities and terrifying people.terrifying people.

The plague took its’ toll on the The plague took its’ toll on the Huns and they retreated. Attila Huns and they retreated. Attila died soon after.died soon after.

Italy, now devastated, was Italy, now devastated, was open to invading tribes.open to invading tribes.

In 476, a German soldier In 476, a German soldier Odoacer seized Rome, killing Odoacer seized Rome, killing the emperor. He named the emperor. He named himself king of Itlay.himself king of Itlay.

People now refer to 476 as People now refer to 476 as the “fall” of Rome. However, the “fall” of Rome. However, the fall of Rome was much the fall of Rome was much more complex.more complex.

This This did notdid not mean the end of mean the end of Roman culture. Germanic Roman culture. Germanic rulers kept Roman laws, rulers kept Roman laws, language and the Christian language and the Christian church.church.

Many barbarian kingdoms would not last long but they did mark the way for the future

Europe, as a unified unit, was finished forever—replaced by a multitude of small, competing

entities