The Fall of the Roman Empire

VocabularyRequirements:

1. Terms numbered

2. Definition (provided)

3. Sentence using the term; highlight the term

4. Illustration that demonstrates that you

understand what the term means (i.e., stick

figures or portraits of a person are generally

unable to demonstrate your understanding)

1. Dictator

Definition: an absolute ruler who made rules and

military decisions on his own; did not share power with

others

Sentence: Although my youngest sister thought

that I was a dictator growing up, I have to remind her

that in fact, I shared power with our other sister, which

makes her dictator claim false. Julius Caesar, however,

was truly a dictator after he usurped power from

his triumvirate allies.

Picture:

Diocletian• Strong-willed Roman

army leader; ruled with

an “Iron Fist”

• Claimed to be a

descendant of Roman

Gods; put on

ceremonies to

demonstrate his

godliness

Diocletian• Recognized the challenge of ruling a

huge empire; divided the Roman

Empire in half – East and West

Constantinople

• “The City of Constantine”

• After Diocletian retired a civil war broke

out. Eventually, Constantine gained control,

rejoined the East and West Roman Empire,

and moved the capital from Rome to

Byzantium

• Byzantium was renamed Constantinople

Constantinople

Attila the Hun• Brutal, ruthless Hun chieftain

• Notorious for destroying and

plundering cities

• Forced Germanic

tribes into Rome

Mercenary• Soldiers who fight for pay

• Often not even from Rome

• Power-hungry Romans would hire

mercenaries to fight for them

• This was problematic because

mercenaries’ loyalty could be bought

• “Scab” soldiers

Inflation• Economic problem in which the value

of money goes down AND prices for

products rise at the same time

The Fall of the Roman Empire

Cornell Notes

Factors that led to Rome’s decline

• A weak economy

• Military problems

• Problematic political decisions

• Social problems

Weak Economy

• Inflation - Coins less valuable; goods cost

more

• Unfertile farmland yielded weak harvests

• Food shortages, disease

• Fixed prices (Diocletian)

THINK – PAIR – SHARE Coins became less valuable because they

contained less silver. The value of money

decreased and cost of goods increased.

Eventually the money system collapsed. People

were allowed to pay taxes in food, goods.

1. What problems might exist with this form of

tax collection?

2. Would this form of tax collection help the

crumbling empire or make it worse? Why?

Military Problems

• Lack of loyalty for the Roman Empire

• Mercenary culture allowed for

widespread attempts at “power grabs”

• Several civil wars

• Weak military; susceptible to invasions

(Germanic tribe due to Attila)

Quick Write

Which problem do you think

was more significant: a poor

economy or weak military?

Why?

Problematic Political Decisions

• Diocletian divided the Roman Empire,

fixed prices and limited individual

freedoms

• Constantine rejoined the East & West

Roman Empires, but after his death,

another civil war began and the East

& West were again divided

Social Problems

• People were less interested in public

affairs

• Lack of patriotism

• Social classes deeply divided

• Less people due to food shortages

and disease

Quick Write

Do you think different leaders

could have saved the Roman

Empire? Why/why not?

The Collapse

• The Western Empire succumbed to German

forces

• The Eastern Empire held on and flourished

for 1,000 more years; known as the

Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine Empire continued to spread

Greek and Roman ideas

Cornell Notes Summary

1. Describe the fall of the Roman

Empire.

2. Which of the factors do you think

was/were the most significant in the

fall of the Roman Empire? Why?