DECLINE & FALL OF
THE ROMAN EMPIRE

I. CENTURY OF
CRISIS
A. INTRODUCTION
1. PAX ROMANA BEGINS
DECLINE BEGAN AT END
OF GOOD EMPERORS
2. BEGINNING OF PERIOD
OF CIVIL WAR

…INTRO
3. DID NOT KNOW HOW TO
COPE WITH CRISIS

B. ROME’S
ECONOMY WEAKENS
1. PAX ROMANA a) PERIOD OF GOOD
TRADE b) INCREASED WEALTH
FROM GOLD AND SILVER c) GREW ENOUGH FOOD

2. ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS a) TRADE DISRUPTED BY
INVASION b) LIMITED EXPANSION =
FEWER SOURCES OF GOLD c) WEALTHY SPENT MONEY ON
LUXURY GOOD OUTSIDE OF
EMPIRE

…ECONOMY d) RESULTED IN LACK OF
GOLD & SILVER

3. ATTEMPTED
SOLUTIONS a) RAISED TAXES b) COINS MINTED WITH
LESS METAL

…SOLUTIONS c) INFLATION
(1) DECREASE
IN VALUE OF
MONEY
(2) INCREASE
IN PRICE OF
GOODS

4. CAUSES FOR
FOOD SHORTAGE a) OVERWORKED SOIL b) HIGHER TAXES LED TO
FEWER FARMS c) WAR DESTROYED FARM
LAND

C. MILITARY &
POLITICAL PROBLEMS
1. INVASIONS a) GERMANIC TRIBES
FROM NORTH b) PERSIA IN EAST

2. ARMY a) SOLDIERS LESS LOYAL &
DISCIPLINED b) CIVIL WAR FOR CONTROL
OF ROME c) USE OF MERCENARIES

D. ROMAN POLITICS
1. CITIZENS LESS
PATRIOTIC
2. POLITICAL OFFICE
BECAME COSTLY

E. MORAL DECAY
1. PEOPLE LOST FAITH IN
ROMAN GOVERNMENT &
FAMILY
2. TURNED TO CHURCH FOR
LEADERSHIP

II. EMPEROR’S
ATTEMPTED REFORMS
A. DIOCLETIAN
1. REFORMS a) INCREASED SIZE OF
ARMIES b) SET FIXED PRICES FOR
GOODS

…REFORMS c) FARMERS HAD TO REMAIN
OF FARMS (FEUDALISM) d) WORKERS REMAINED IN
JOBS e) CLAIMED DESCENT FROM
THE GODS

2. DIVISION OF THE
EMPIRE a) DIVIDED EAST = GREEK
WEST = LATIN b) DIOCLETIAN RULED EAST c) EASTERN PART
WEALTHIEST

3. RESULTS a) SLOWED DECLINE b) CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT
UPON DEATH

B. CONSTANTINE
MOVES CAPITOL
1. GAINED CONTROL OF
WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE
312 A.D.
2. RESTORED EMPIRE 324
A.D.

…CONSTANTINE
3. BYZANTIUM a) MOVED CAPITOL TO
BYZANTIUM b) LOCATED ON
BOSPHORUS STRAIT

…CONSTANTINE c) SHIFTED POWER
CENTER FORM
ROME d) CITY RENAMED
CONSTANTINOPLE

III. WESTERN EMPIRE
CRUMBLES
A. INTRODUCTION
1. CAUSES FOR FALL a) INTERNAL PROBLEMS b) SEPARATION FROM
EASTERN EMPIRE c) OUTSIDE INVASION

2. GERMANIC
TRIBES a) SETTLED ON NORTHERN
BORDER b) ADOPTED ROMAN
CULTURE c) OVERWHELMED &
CONQUERED W. ROME

d. TRIBES
(1) OSTROGOTHS
(2) VISIGOTHS
(3) ANGLES
(4) SAXONS
(5) VANDALS
(6) FRANKS (7) MAGYARS

B. HUNS
1. FORCED GERMANIC
TRIBES INTO W. ROME
2. CONQUERED ASIA &
EASTERN EUROPE

C. GERMANIC
INVASION
1. VANDALS a) INVADED ROME
FLEEING HUNS b) MIGRATED THROUGH
ROMAN PROVINCES TO N.
AFRICA (CARTHAGE)

…VANDALS c) ROME UNABLE TO STOP
INVASION

2. VISIGOTHS a) LED BY ALERIC b) INVADED LOOTED CITY
OF ROME

D. ATTILA THE HUN
1. DIRECT THREAT a) UNITED UNDER ATTILA b) ATTACKED BOTH PARTS
OF EMPIRE c) FAILED TO ENTER
CONSTANTINOPLE

2. HUNS IN THE
WEST a) ADVANCED AGAINST ROME b) WEAKENED BY FAMINE &
DISEASE c) WITHDREW AFTER
NEGOTIATION WITH LEO I d) GERMANIC INVASIONS
CONTINUED

3. EFFECT ON ROME a) ROME LEFT IN FAMINE b) POPULATION DECREASED
TO 20,000

E. AN EMPIRE NO
MORE
1. AUGUSTULUS a) LAST EMPEROR SENT
INTO EXILE b) NO MORE EMPERORS
FOR WESTERN EMPIRE

2. EASTERN EMPIRE a) BECAME BYZANTINE
EMPIRE b) PRESERVED GREEK &
ROMAN CULTURE c) FELL IN 1453 TO
OTTOMAN TURKS

IV. LEGACY OF GRECO-
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
A. INTRODUCTION
1. GREEK LEADERSHIP IN
CULTURAL ADVANCES a) ROMANS LEARNED
GREEK LANGUAGE

…INFLUENCE b) GRECO-ROMAN CULTURE
- MIX OF GREEK, ROMAN,
& HELLENISTIC CULTURE

B. ROMAN FINE
ARTS
1. CHANGES TO GREEK
SCULPTURE a) REALISTIC PORTRAITS b) PRACTICAL IN
PURPOSE USED FOR
EDUCATION

2. BAS-RELIEF a) IMAGES PROJECTED
FROM FLAT BACKGROUND b) USED TO TELL STORIES
(HISTORY)

3. MOSAICS a) PICTURE MADE USING
PIECES OF GLASS, STONE,
OR TILE b) USED TO DECORATE
HOUSES

4. FRESCOES a) WALL MURALS b) POMPEII VOLCANO
PRESERVED FRESCOES

C. LEARNING &
LITERATURE
1. VIRGIL a) WROTE AENEID b) MODELED ON HOMER’S
ILIAD & ODYSSEY

V. LEGACY OF ROME
A. LATIN LANGUAGE
INFLUENCES
1. LATIN REMAINED
LANGUAGE OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH

…LATIN
2. DEVELOPED INTO ROMANCE
LANGUAGES
3. HEAVILY INFLUENCED
ENGLISH
4. REMAINED COMMON
LANGUAGE OF EUROPE INTO
1500’S

B. ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
1. CONTINUED TO USE
LATIN
2. CHURCH BECAME
EXAMPLE OF MORAL
AUTHORITY

…CHURCH
3. LOYALTY TO CHURCH
MORE IMPORTANT THAN
LOYALTY TO ROME
4. CHURCH BECAME
UNIFYING FORCE IN
WESTERN EUROPE

…CHURCH
5. CHURCH TOOK THE
PLACE OF ROMAN
GOVERNMENT

C. ARCHITECTURE
1. ARCH, DOME, CONCRETE a) USED IN ROMAN
ARCHITECTURE
(COLISEUM & PANTHEON)

…ARCHITECTURE b) ARCHES
(1) USED TO BUILD
AQUEDUCTS
C) CULTURAL DIFFUSION
(1) PRACTICAL DESIGN STILL
USED TODAY
(a) U.S. & STATE CAPITOLS

D. ROMAN LAW
1. STANDARDS a. EQUAL TREATMENT
UNDER THE LAW b. INNOCENT UNTIL
PROVEN GUILTY

…STANDARDS c. ACCUSER HAD TO PROVE
GUILT d. PUNISHED ONLY FOR
ACTIONS e. UNFAIR LAWS COULD BE
OVERTURNED