Transcript Roman Empire - Too Big to Succeed

The Roman Empire included these
modern countries:
Portugal
San Marino
Hungary
Kuwait
Spain
Vatican City
Albania
Cyprus
Andorra
Malta
Greece
Lebanon
United Kingdom
Austria
FYR Macedonia
Jordan
France
Czech Republic
Romania
Israel
Monaco
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Saudi Arabia
Luxembourg
Slovenia
Turkey
Egypt
Belgium
Croatia
Georgia
Sudan
Netherlands
Montenegro
Armenia
Libya
Germany
Kosovo
Azerbaijan
Tunisia
Switzerland
Serbia
Syria
Algeria
Liechtenstein
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iraq
Morocco
Italy
The Roman Empire:
Too Big to Succeed?
GOAL: To list the problems caused by the
vast size of the Roman Empire.
Problems from being too big:
● Borders got too long
● Too many enemies
● Too many cultures (languages, religions, customs, etc.)
● More connection to local area than to Rome
● Civil wars
Languages in the Roman empire
Partial list of usurpers
Avidius Cassius (175)
Pescennius Niger (193-194)
Clodius Albinius (196-197)
Gellius Maximus (219)
Verus (219)
Uranius (221)
Seleucus (221)
Sallustius (227)
Taurinus (unknown)
Magnus (235)
Quartinus (235)
Iotapianus (c. 248)
Pacatianus (c. 248)
Silbannacus (unknown)
Sponsianus (unknown)
Priscus (249-252)
Licinianus (250)
Ingenuus (260)
Macrianus Major, Macrianus Minor,
Quietus (260-261)
Regalianus (260)
Balista (261)
Piso (261)
Valens (261)
Memor (261)
Mussius Aemilianus (261-262)
Censorinus (269-270
Domitianus (270-271)
Felicissimus (271)
Septimus (271)
Urbanus (271)
Firmus (273)
Bonosus (280)
Proculus (280)
Saturninus (280)
Sibinus Iulianus (unknown)
Diocletian's solution:
● Divide the empire into East and West
● Have four emperors
● Name successors in advance
Problems from dividing the empire:
● Each person had less decision-making power
● Emperors were frenemies
● East and West had different cultures and concerns
WEST
● Spoke Latin
● Followed Catholic
Church
● Surrounded by enemies
(barbarian tribes)
EAST
● Spoke Greek
● Followed Orthodox
Church
● Had one main enemy
(Persia)
Turn to your neighbor and list the problems
caused by the vast size of the Roman
empire. Try to do it without looking at your
notes.