Transcript WH 1 Lesson 30 Instructional Resource 1

Decline of the Western Roman Empire
Causes and Effects
From Peace to Decline
Pax Romana – Augustus and the Five Good

Emperors
(Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and
Marcus Aurelius)
Consolidated Frontiers
Trade and agriculture flourished
Public building.
1.
2.
3.
Although things did seem to be getting
better, there were problems on the horizon.


Barbarian pressures were mounting.
Decline

The death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 led to a
300-year period of steady decline because of
internal and external problems.

No good leader could be found to fill the Roman
office of emperor.


Between 211 and 300, there were more than seventy
emperors fighting for control of the Imperial office.
Meanwhile, the frontiers disintegrated, the
barbarian tribes began to move into the territory
of the Empire itself.

The Pax Romana was clearly at an end.
Causes of the decline of the Western Roman
Empire

1. Economy- The cost of defense and devaluation of
Roman currency.

2. Military- Army membership starting to include
invaders, resulting in decline of discipline.
Decline continued

3. Moral decay - People’s loss
of faith in Rome and the family.

4. Political problems - Civil
conflict and weak
administration.

5. Invasion - Attack on borders

Huns, Visigoths, Ostragoths, Franks,
Saxons, and Vandals.
Division of the Roman Empire

Emperor Diocletian split the Roman
Empire into 2 parts for better control.

Later, emperor Constantine moved the
capital from the city of Rome to
Byzantium (Asia Minor).

He renamed the new capital
Constantinople after himself – today it
is the city of Istanbul.
Division of the Roman Empire
Division

Western Roman
Empire survived until
476 A.D., when it
ceased to have a
Roman Emperor.

Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine Empire)
persisted until the 15th
century.