Transcript The Decline and Fall of Rome

Vocab
• Diocletian- Emperor of Rome who divided the
Empire into 2 halves.
• Constantine- Emperor of Rome who made
Christianity the religion of the Empire and shifted
the capital from Rome to Byzantium.
• Constantinople- Formally named Byzantium, the city
served as the Roman Empire’s new capital.
Warm Up
• Do you feel that America is in its ascendency or
decline as a civilization? Why?
EQ
• EXPLAIN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THE FALL OF
THE ROMAN EMPIRE?
The Decline and
Fall of Rome
The Decline of Rome
• Roman decline begins 180
CE
• Before decline Rome’s
economy was good! Very
rich in gold and silver taken
from conquered territories
• Great trade routes to Asia
and Africa
• Farmers grew plenty of
grain
• Then…
• Hostile tribes and pirates
disrupt trade and cause
expensive wars.
• Romans bought too many
luxury items from India and
China.
• Expansion of the Empire
ends so no new sources of $
are created!
• So…
• To pay its debts, the government
raises taxes!
1.
(Economic) Harvests become
poor because soil is overused.
Farmers abandon the land
because they can’t pay taxes.
•
2.
This causes inflation: Drop in the
value of money accompanied by a
rise in prices.
(Military) Military has problems
with discipline and loyalty.
They begin to lose! The
government is forced to hire
mercenaries: Paid soldiers from
other countries who fought for
less pay but were not loyal to
the Empire.
3.
(Political) There was no
patriotism in the
government. The rich
were indifferent to the
government. Officials
lost money having to
sponsor so many festivals!
No one wanted to serve in
the government because it
was too expensive for
them! The army then
took over the government
making it UNSTABLE!
• Amazingly, the empire
remained intact for another
200 years because of
reforms made by emperors.
• Emperor Diocletian
• Took control in 284 AD
• Restored order in the Empire and
increased its strength
• Doubled the size of Roman
Army
• Set fixed prices for goodscontrolled inflation
• Forced famers to stay on their
land and other workers to stay
in jobs for life
• Divided Roman Empire into
an Eastern Half and
Western Half.
Roman Empire is divided
WEST
EAST
•Latin Speaking
•Italy, Gaul, Britannia,
Spain
•Ruler: Maxamian
•Poor
•Greek Speaking
•Greece, Anatolia, Syria,
Egypt
•Ruler: Diocletian
•Rich: Empires greatest cities
& trade centers
CIVIL WAR (312 AD)
CONSTANTINE-Gains control of West
Fall of Rome
CONSTANTINE
•Creates new capital in East
•Secures control of East
•Single Ruler
•Moves capital from Rome to
Byzantium…later renamed
Constantinople
•Center of power shifts from west to east
(324 AD)
•West would fall in 476 AD
•East would flourish
•Byzantine Empire lasted another
1000 years
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
• Detail chart
EQ
• EXPLAIN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THE FALL OF
THE ROMAN EMPIRE?
Closing
1. What were some of the major causes for the
decline of Rome?
2. What effect did Diocletian have on Rome?
3. What were some differences between the Western
and Eastern Roman Empire?
4. What is the significance of Constantine? What
does he help flourish?