PoliticsA Declining Empire

• Rome was not built in a day, and its decline took hundreds of years.

• There are four causes that lead to the fall of Rome;

1. Economic2. Political3. Social4. External threats

How long did it take for Rome to come to its end?

What are the 4 causes for the decline of the Roman Empire?

PoliticsThe Economic Cause

• The cost of managing the empire became increasingly expensive.

• An incredibly expensive military.• Inflation and plague led more

people seeking for expensive assistance in the cities.

• Rome passed high taxes to pay for everything, and this lead to a disgruntled populace.

What made the empire increasingly expensive to run?

How did people respond to higher taxes?

PoliticsThe Political Cause

• The empire suffered from really bad leaders.

• Emperor Diocletian split the empire into two halves to make the empire easier to manage.

• This led to increased civil wars and competing factions.

• Constantine moved capital to the east – Constantinople.

What were the political problems?

PoliticsThe Social Cause • Corruption became an

increasingly difficult problem.• Emperors were frequently

assassinated and replaced by greedy factions.

• Leaders served their own interests and not those of the people or empire.

What were the social problems?

PoliticsThe External Threat Cause • The empire was being overrun

by “barbarians” from outside the empire.

– Vandals– Angles / Saxons– Huns– Visigoths

Who was the external threat to Rome?

PoliticsThe External Threat Cause

• These barbarians lost their lands and were looking for new ones in the Roman Empire.

• These barbarians would continuously invade and attack the empire, becoming a huge drain on Rome’s strength and resources.

PoliticsRome’s Final Demise

• These 4 causes make the empire too weak to reform and correct what was broken.

• Eventually a barbarian by the name of Odoacer captured the city of Rome and ended the line of emperors.

• The Western Roman Empire officially came to an end.

When did the Western Roman empire officially come to an end?

PoliticsThe Eastern Empire

• Constantinople was a major source of trade, and many important people followed Constantine from Rome to the new capital (leaving Rome weaker).

• When the Western part of the Roman Empire fell, the Eastern portion would continue for almost another 1,000 years called the Byzantine Empire.

Why was the city of Constantinople important?

What was the Byzantine Empire?

PoliticsThe Eastern Empire

• After Rome fell, Constantinople continued the legacy of Roman and Greek culture by preserving and spreading it.

• Byzantine Emperor Justinian took Rome’s laws and simplified them – the Justinian Code. They would have great influence over the laws of Europe.

What important contribution did the Byzantine Empire provide history after the fall of Rome?

What was the Justinian Code?

PoliticsThe Eastern Empire

• The Byzantine empire focused on education to improve society.

• The empire was deeply connected to its Christian identity, and produced mosaics with brightly colored glass and impressive churches like Hagia Sophia.

What were a few things the Byzantine empire produce?

Hagia Sophia: Holy Wisdom

Choose 6 of the 101. How long did it take for Rome to come to its end?2. What were the economic problems?3. What were the political problems?4. What were the social problems?5. Who was the external threat to Rome?6. When did the Western Roman empire officially come to an end?7. Why was the city of Constantinople important?8. What was the Byzantine Empire? What important contribution did

the Byzantine Empire provide history after the fall of Rome?9. What was the Justinian Code?10. What were a few things the Byzantine empire produce?