Transcript The Collapse of the Western Roman Empire



SSWH3: The student will examine the political,
philosophical, and cultural interaction of
Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE
to 400 CE.
E. Analyze the factors that led to the collapse of
the Western Roman Empire


Emperor Diocletian divided the empire
 Strengthened & enlarged the administrative bureaucracies
 Enlarged the army (included German troops)
 Issued a price Edict in 301 to try & slow inflation (failed)
 Tried to ensure the tax base by making people stay in
designated vocations
Emperor Constantine moved the site of the capital to the old
Greek colony of Byzantium (Bosporus)
 the city was named Constantinople
 had an excellent strategic location
 Constantinople became the center of the Eastern Roman
Empire , while Rome remained the center of the Western
Roman Empire

The Huns (Attila) invaded north Asia & pushed the
Visigoth’s into Roman territory:




They began as Roman allies, but soon revolted because of
the terrible treatment of the Roman Legions
 Defeated the Romans at Adrianople in 378 A.D.
410 A.D the Visigoths sacked Rome
455 A.D. the Vandals sacked Rome again
476 A.D. the Western half of the Roman Empire was
destroyed


Emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the head of
the Germanic army
German kingdoms developed throughout Europe

The Rise of Christianity


Population of non- Italians grew





Traditional Roman values declined
Plague wiped out 1/10 of the population
Slavery


emphasis of a spiritual kingdom weakened Roman military
virtues
Rome failed to advance technologically because they had a
large labor force
Rome was unable to put together a workable political
system (corruption)
Invasion of the Germanic tribes
Lead poisoning through leaden water pipes & cups
caused mental decline in the population