Transcript The Fall of the Roman Empire - White Plains Public Schools

The Fall of the Roman Empire
In this lesson, students will identify factors
which led to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Students will be able to identify and/or
define the following terms:
Emperor Diocletian
Emperor Constantine
Barbarian Invaders
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The Romans had conquered a vast empire.
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Emperor Diocletian
• In 284 A.D., the Emperor Diocletian
divided the Roman empire into two parts:
an eastern section and a western section.
• Diocletian felt the Roman Empire was too
big for one person to effectively govern.
• Ruling such a vast empire was difficult.
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Emperor Diocletian
divided the Roman
empire into two
parts.
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Emperor Constantine
• In 306 A.D., the emperor Constantine
moved the capital of the Roman Empire
from Rome to Byzantium in Asia Minor.
• Constantine renamed his new capital
Constantinople.
• Constantinople had a good location for
trade.
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Emperor Constantine moved the capital
of the Roman Empire from Rome to
Constantinople.
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Can you find Constantinople on this map?
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Barbarians
• For hundreds of years, Germanic tribes
invaded the Roman Empire.
• The Romans called these Germanic
tribesmen Barbarians.
• The term “Barbarian” was ethnocentric
and insulting.
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The Roman army even built a wall
trying to prevent the Barbarians from
invading.
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The Huns and The Barbarians
• When the Huns (a central Asian tribe)
attacked the Germanic tribes, the
Germanic tribes were pushed into the
Roman Empire.
• At first, the Romans let the Visigoths (a
Barbarian tribe) move within their empire.
• However, the Visigoths had to promise not
to bring their weapons.
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However, the
Visigoths did
not keep their
promise.
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The Battle of Adrianople
• In 378 A.D. at the Battle of Adrianople, the
Roman army was defeated by the
Visigoths.
• It was the first time, Rome could not
defend itself.
• In 476 A.D., the western Roman empire
fell.
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Barbarian invaders, corrupt emperors,
and high taxes were just some of the
reasons for the fall of Rome.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Who was Diocletian and what did he do to
the Roman Empire?
• Where did Constantine move the capital
and why did he move the capital?
• Define Barbarians.
• Why is the Battle of Adrianople important?
• List three factors for the fall of Rome.
• When did Rome fall?
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