Transcript The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Roman EMPIRE
Weakening
Republic
 “The Gracchi”
– Helped the poor
– Land reform
 Julius Caesar
– 1st Triumvirate
– Caesar, Pompey, Crassius
– Jealousy weakened the bond
– Weakened power of the senate
– JC became dictator
– Murdered (March 15, 44BC)

The Empire  2nd Triumvirate
– Octavian (Julius Caesar’s Nephew)
– Marc Antony (Julius Caesar’s
General)
– Lepidus (Julius Caesar’s 2nd in
command)

Shift in Power
– Marc Antony conquers Syria, Asia
Minor and settles in Egypt
(w/Cleopatra)
– Lepidus retires and Octavian took
his share of the power
– Octavian declared war on Marc
Antony & Cleopatra & won
 Forced to flee to Alexandria

The Empire  Augustus = “respected one”
– Octavian changed his name to
Augustus and declared himself
Emperor
– Expanded Roman Empire to Asia
Minor & N. Africa

The
Empire
Cont’d.

Pax Romana
– 200 years of Roman “Peace”
– Emperors
 Julio-Claudian Emperors
– Tiberius (Augustus’ Son)
– Caligula (brutal ruler,
assassinated)
– Claudius (poisoned by his
wife)
– Nero (Set fire to Rome &
committed suicide
 5 Good Emperors (100 Years)
– Nerva, Hadrian (Spanish),
Marcus Aurelius (Philosopher),
Trajan, Antonius Pius

Invaders
threaten
Rome

From the NORTH (Barbarians)
– Goths
 Wanted nicer climate for farming
– Vandals & Visigoths
 Allowed to stay if they helped defend
Rome against Huns
– Franks & Burgundians- Created
inroads to Rome: easy access

From the EAST
– Ostrogoths
– Huns

Rome forced to negotiate with
invading tribes

Division of  Diocletian
the Empire
– Split the Empire in two, EAST and
WEST
 East: Greek
 West: Latin
– Each had own leader

Division
Cont’d.

Constantine
– 1st Christian Emperor
– Moved capital of Rome to
Constantinople
– Rome became very vulnerable
 Alaric (Leader of Visigoths) attacked
Rome 410AD
 Spain, France, Africa, England fell to
tribes

The End of
the Empire

Inflation
– Needed more money to support thinning
military force
– Taxes increased and more money was made
leading to increase in prices

Corruption& Civil War
– Weak Emperors held little control
– Citizens became skeptical
– Throne succession unclear

Plague
– 20-30% population died between 200-300
AD

455 AD
– The “End” of the Empire
– Vandals destroyed Rome once and for all

The Good
News

Roman Contributions
– Road System
 Improved communication and trade
– Government: Republic & Laws
– Stability and prosperity for 1,000
years
– Christianity
– Architecture & Technology
– Aqueduct system
– Tax system
– Public Works
– Language
Latin

Summary: Answer the following questions using
complete sentences:
1. What factors lead to the weakening of the Roman
Republic?
2. Who were the members of the 2nd Triumvirate?
3. Who was the 1st Roman Emperor and how did he get
his power?
4. Who was the first Christian Emperor?
5. What was the Pax Romana?
6. Explain how Diocletian, Barbarians and Constantine
weakened the Roman Empire.
7. What were the causes of the fall of the Roman
Empire?
8. Explain how Roads impacted the development of the
Roman Empire.