Transcript Aim: What were the causes for the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Homework

Complete the DBQ outline for tomorrow.

DBQ essay on the fall of the Western
Roman Empire will be written in class on
Tuesday.
Aim #12: What were the
causes for the fall of the
Western Roman Empire?
January 25, 2016
I. The Beginning of the End
A.
After the Pax Romana, Rome is ruled
by weak, corrupt leaders. Between 235
and 284, there were twenty-two
emperors. Most of them were killed by
the army or their own bodyguards!
I. The Beginning of the End
B. Two Emperors try to save Rome
 Emperor Diocletian (284-305):
 Divided the Empire into eastern and
western parts.
 Builds up the army to stop invasions
 Controls prices of goods to stop
inflation
 To make sure goods were
produced, he forces workers to stay
in the same jobs until they die.

Emperor Constantine (306-337):
 To keep people from leaving
their jobs, sons have to do
the same thing their fathers
did.

Expanded the size of the
army and government.

Moves the capital of the
Empire from Rome in the
west to Constantinople in the
east.
II. The Fall of Rome

Western Roman Empire
→Continued to decline
and collapsed in 476.
Western Europe is thrown
into a period of chaos and
instability known as The
Middle Ages.

Eastern Roman Empire →
Capital at Constantinople.
Continued as the powerful
Byzantine Empire for
1,000 years after Rome
fell
Critical Thinking Question

Which theory for the fall of the Roman
Empire do you find to be most persuasive?
Why?