Transcript Chapter 9 Lesson 3

The Fall of Rome
A. Government and economy lost stability due
to weak and corrupt rulers
1. After 192 AD, emperors were mostly Generals
2. They stole from Rome’s treasury and used the
money to pay for loyalty from soldiers and things
for themselves
3. Rulers would gain the throne through violence
( between 180 AD and 284 AD , Rome had 29
emperors-most were assassinated)
B. Army was made up of mercenaries
(foreign soldiers) who would not fight
unless paid
1. Soldiers would switch sides if it worked
to their advantage
2. Motivation to fight was not out of loyalty
to Rome but money.
C. Empire was too big to rule from one
place
1. Attacks were occurring all the empire
(Asia, Africa, Northern Europe)
2. Tribes that at one time would have been
easily defeated now poured over the border
3. Army had to defend the empire not
extend it
D. These problems led to Economic problems which
led to Higher taxes, unemployment, food
shortages, and inflation
1. Economics-how a country or empire meets the
needs of its people.
2. With Rome no longer taking over land, new sources
of wealth were not available and it set everything in
motion
3. Severe unemployment
4. Food was scarce, so food prices went up. To pay for
it government made more coins
5. Value of coin depended on amount of silver in it.
Did not have a lot of silver to put in coins, so coins
were worth less. (inflation)
Lots of coins but little value. Prices went up. Coins
would become worthless
1. Emperor Diocletian enlarged the army, built forts at
the border, and improved the tax system
2 . He divided the empire into two parts to make it easier
to rule. He ruled the east (more wealthy) and appointed
a co-emperor to rule the west. Stepped down in AD 305
A. Power struggles between co-emperors
1. Constantine would fight to take control of Rome
a. would give freedom of worship to all people in
the empire(Christians)
b. Helped to build churches and even hired
Christians for government jobs
B. Moves the capital city to the east to Byzantium in AD
330. Attempt to unite and stabilize the whole empire.
Would rename Constantinople
C. The power now shifted east. Eastern part of empire is
wealthier, stronger, more powerful and not under
attack
1. 400’s-tribes overran the Western empire
2. Rome was captured and looted in 410 AD and in
455 AD
D. 476 AD- Western Roman Empire was attacked and
fell to Germanic tribes (last emperor Romulus
Augustulus)
E. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the
Eastern half remained strong for 1000 more years.
It would be known as the Byzantine empire and
Constantinople would be its capital
A. Law and government (veto power, 3
branches of govt., the Senate)
B. Language (English is 1 of many influenced
by Latin-called the Romance languages)
C. Architecture (columns, arches, aqueducts,
roads)
D. Christianity