Transcript The Decline of the Roman Empire

The Decline of the
Roman Empire
180 CE TO 476 CE
The beginning of the end . . .
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The decline of Rome began in the second
century CE when enemies to the north and
east began crossing the borders and
plundering Roman territory.
From the east, the Parthians (Iranian people)
and later, the Sassanians threatened to
expand into the Roman empire.
By 293 CE, many parts of the empire were in
revolt. The emperor, Diocletian, divided the
Roman empire into two sections.
Two Emperors . . . Than One
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Diocletian ruled the
eastern Empire and
Maximian ruled the
western Empire.
Diocletian persecuted
the Christians worst
than any other
Emperor/Ruler.
Both resigned in 305
CE and many leaders
attempted to take over.
Two Emperors . . . Than One
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Constantine fought in a
civil war to become sole
emperor of Rome.
He built a new capital in
a GREEK town and
named it
“Constantinople.”
It would later become
the capital of the great
Byzantine empire.
Maximian
Constantine
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Constantine looked upon
Christians more
favorably than Diocletian
and later converted to
Christianity (on his
deathbed in 337 CE).
In 312 CE, in response to
a vision, he ordered his
soldiers to wear Christian
monograms on their
shields into battle to
show respect for the
Christian God.
The Last Emperor
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Theodosius, the last emperor
of Rome, made Christianity
to official religion of the
empire in 380 CE.
He OUTLAWED other
religions.
Chi Rho – first two
letters of “Christ” (XP)
The Last Emperor
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Barbarians (as the Romans called them)
invaded Roman territory.
Theodosius stepped down, and was replaced
by two emperors.
In 476 CE, a Germanic chief captured Rome
and forced the western emperor to step
down.
The Dark Ages
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In the east, the Byzantine empire emerged
into greatness.
In the west, the Germanic tribes fought each
other and destroyed what was once
triumphant in Rome – for this reason, the
early part of the Medieval period has
sometimes been called the Dark Ages.