Transcript THE FALL of ROME

Should Rome have asked,
“Where is the enemy?”?
Empire Crumbles
 When the last of the
“good emperors,”
Marcus Aurelius died . . .
 . . . He left his son,
Commodus, in power.
 He was a savage
ruler.
 He loved the
bloodshed of the
Gladiators.
 He bribed the army to
support him.
Empire Crumbles
This began the
decline of Roman
Empire.
Commodus was
not the only cause
for decline . . .
Many INTERNAL
problems led to the
end.
#1 Weak Corrupt Rulers
After Commodus,
emperors were a
succession of
generals, not
politicians.
They stole money
from treasury to
enrich themselves.
They had to pay off
soldiers.
#1 Weak Corrupt Rulers
 The government and
economy fell to pieces.
(inflation)
 The senate lost its
power.
 Emperors were not
safe.
 In 104 years, there
were 29 emperors.
 . . . most were
murdered
(assassinated).
#2 Mercenary Army
The Roman Army had
been made of citizensoldiers, ready to
defend their land.
The Roman Army had
been made of citizensoldiers, ready to
conquer new lands, to
receive “payment” of
real value.
#2 Mercenary Army
The army was later
filled with
mercenaries- foreign
soldiers fighting for
pay-for personal gain.
Rome’s strength had
depended on loyal
army.
#3 The Size of the Empire
The empire had grown too
large to be ruled from one
place.
Enemies from Asia, Africa
and Northern Europe,
attacked.
Tribes that had been
conquered poured over the
borders causing the empire to
shrink.
#4 Serious Economic Problems
Eventually Rome
stopped conquering
new lands.
no new sources of
wealth
no new resources
Taxes became heavier.
Huge unemployment
developed.
Rome paid an army
that would not always
fight.
#4 Serious Economic Problems
Food became scarce,
inflation common.
Government made
coins to pay for food;
prices went up.
Less value in money,
value based on
silver, but with less
and . . .
. . . less silver per
coin, becoming
worthless.
Trying to Stop Decline
Some emperors
made efforts to stop
decline of Empire.
Diocletian-persecuted
Christians
worked to
strengthen Rome
enlarged army
Built new forts at
borders
Trying to Stop Decline
Diocletian
(continued)
improved tax
collection
had money to pay
army
divided empire in
two to make it
easier to rule
chose the wealthy
East, co-ruler
given declining
West
Romans Accept
Christianity
Diocletian retired
and so did his coruler, leading to
years of civil war.
Generals fought each
other.
In A.D. 312
Constantine, a
general, stood near a
bridge with his
troops, with a battle
about to begin. . .
Romans Accept
Christianity
 The sun broke through
the clouds in the form of
a cross, with the words,
”Under this sign you
will conquer.”
 Crosses were put on his
soldiers’ shields; they
enjoyed an
overwhelming victory.
 He believed the message
came from Christian
God; he vowed to
become a Christian.
Romans Accept
Christianity
 Under Constantine,
 Christianity was
legalized and
supported.
 Freedom to worship
was not limited.
 Christianity soon
became official
religion.
 Capital was moved to
Byzantium, renamed
Constantinople.
Fall of Rome (external factors, the
attacks on Rome)
 Constantine struggled to keep
the empire together.
 At his death, invaders swept
across the borders.
 They overwhelmed the
empire.
 Invaders came from tribes to
the north; Rome had defeated
these tribes earlier, but they
were too weak now.
Fall of Rome (external factors, the
attacks on Rome)
 Goths- wore black, white
faces like ghosts
 Vandals- destroyed parts of
the city and painted it in
blood
 Huns- used Roman tactics
against them led by Attila
 Visigoths- winged helmets,
stole most of food like
vultures
Fall of Rome (external factors, the
attacks on Rome)
 Rome was captured and looted.
 Roman emperor was powerless.
 Romulus Augustus
 14 years old
 Captured by German general
 Sent to work on a farm
 No ruler remained in the West.
 A new Empire began in the East
in Byzantium, called Byzantine
Empire.