Transcript The Fall of the Roman Empire - 7

The Fall of the Roman
Empire
Why would such a great Empire
fail???
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Brainstorm ideas:
Military Reasons
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Germanic Tribes
• Hun people from Central Asia
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Large empire that invaded Rome from the north
Attila the Hun (405-453) defeated the Goths
and Vandals before invading Rome
Military Reason
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Weakened Legions (army)
• Hired MERCENARIES had NO loyalty to
the Roman government
• Caused a lot of uncontrollable violence
• High Cost of defending such a large empire
against attack (Huns, Celts, Visigoths,
Vandals)
Social Reasons
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As the empire grew, the number of poor
citizens increased, which led to urban decay
Due to size of empire—loss of loyalty,
patriotism, and duty to serve Rome
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People felt more secure under Barbarian rule
Eastern part of the empire (Constantinople)
was gaining more power
Urban decay: cities were filthy, wooden
apartments were falling apart, poor sewage
lead to plague
Political Reasons
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No system was set up to crown a new
dictator, many assassination and corrupt
naming of dictators
• In 50 years of Rome, 25 emperors ruled
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2 capitals (Rome and Constantinople)
• East became more wealthy and refused to
help the West
Economic Reasons
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Too high of taxes
Slave labor lead to unemployment
Inflation (high prices and low money
value) due to shortage of gold and silver
for coins
Rome stopped expanding borders, which
meant no more war “loot” coming in
Diocletian’s Wages and Price
Controls
Wages per day
Prices per pound
Farm labor…24 denarii
Sewer Cleaner..25 denari
Carpenter…50 denarii
Wall painter…75 denarii
Artist…150 denarii
Baker…50 denarii
Pork….12 denarii
Beef….8 denarii
Sea fish…24 denarii
Second quality…15
Diocletian
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Made Emperor in 284 CE
He realized that the empire grew too
large so he appointed a emperor in the
East as well.
Drove out invading Barbarian tribes
Attempted to stop inflation and
unemployment by controlling prices and
wages
Constantine
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Crowned Emperor after Diocletian
Remembered for creating a new capital
city in the East: Constantinople
Died in 337 CE
Empire was completely spilt in 2 by 400
CE