Transcript 3.13 Fall of the Empire

Fall of the Empire
CHW 3M
The Big Question
How does the strongest, most stable
empire in history collapse?
If Rome can fall, is any civilization
truly “infallible”? (America? Russia?
Canada?)
The years between 180 and 476 marked a
slow/steady decline in the Roman Empire.
Crisis of the Third Century
After Marcus Aurelius came a time
known as “The Anarchy”
• 26 emperors – only 1 dies natural
death
• “Barracks emperors” – used army to
take control
• Constant barbarian attacks
• Plagues and famines common
• Taxes and inflation rise
• Very difficult time for common
people
• Empire almost collapsed!
Two emperors saved the day...
Temporary Relief
Diocletian (284AD)
• Great organizer – heavy-handed approach restored
order
• Divided empire into 2 halves (with 2 emperors) to
reduce possibility of revolt (Augustus and Caesar)
• Reorganized and expanded army to protect against
barbarians (500,000 soldiers)
• Annual taxes introduced (Nice for citizens - regularity)
• Death led to civil war between two empires
Constantine (306AD)
• Restored order – another heavy-handed organizer
• Increased army even more (600,000)
• Hired many barbarian tribes (why? Good idea?)
• Moves capitol to Byzantine (Constantinople)
• More power/order, but furthers split between
East and West
The Barbarian Invasions
(4th and 5th Centuries)
The Hun Threat: Mongolian Huns began to move West,
attacking Rome and scaring/threatening other Barbarian
tribes
• Causes more attacks/migrations into Rome
• Goths: “Let us join you or we will fight our way in”
• Made into private Roman army, but mistreated
• Turned on Rome – surprise attack kills Eastern
emperor and destroys army
• Opens the way for more barbarian attacks
• 410AD: Sacked Rome – world grieves
• Vandals: Push through Western Empire and Africa
• 455AD: Sacked Rome for 2 weeks (“vandalism”)
• Attila the Hun: Mighty warrior, ransomed East Empire
before turning to West
• Pope Leo I persuades Huns to leave without
attacking Rome (more menace than actual threat)
End of the Empire
While the Huns left, Germanic
barbarians remained within, and
controlled, Rome.
•Franks, anglo/saxons, settle in
Europe
•476AD: West Roman Emperor is a
German – end of Roman Empire
WHAT HAPPENED?
Dozens of theories – but three main factors
include:
• Army issues
• Failure to industrialize economy
• Final economic failure
Army Issues
Consistent problem: Government could
not control the army – the army
controlled the government
• Rooted in imperialism:
• Since empire grew faster than
government could support, army
needed to maintain order
• Corruption: army gradually degenerated
• Mercenaries and thugs increasingly
ran military
• Led to armed revolutions
Failure to Industrialize Economy
Rome was not producing as much goods as it
should have, because it was technologically
weak.
This was due to:
• Steady supply of slaves: Discourages
technological innovations (why bother?)
• Education system: Science downplayed in
favour of arts/rhetoric (sciences seen as
vulgar)
• Less production = less $$$
• This meant much more taxes needed to
support empire, armies
Economic Collapse
Everyone became poor – economy
could no longer sustain empire/armies
• Large army = huge taxes
• Upper class gave exemptions to
richest classes – common people pay
all the taxes
• Common people literally went broke
• Led to inflation, rising prices
• Economy collapsed
• Empire could no longer fund
anything (like army)
• CHAOS