• 12/17 Focus– Events and conditions inside and outside the
Roman Empire weakened it and led to its
collapse in 476 AD.
• Do Now:
– Identify the role Paul of Tarsus played in the
establishment of the early Christian church.
Review
•
Fill in the Venn diagram by identifying the characteristics that are unique
to Judaism and Christianity on the left or right and the similar
characteristics in the center.
Monotheistic
Salvation by following
the teachings of
Jesus
Torah
Bible
Formed from the
beliefs of the
Hebrews
New
Testament
10 Commandments
The Fall of Rome
The Fall of Rome
• Pax Romana comes to end
when Emperor Marcus
Aurelius dies
• Weak leadership could not
solve problems facing the
empire
– Economic crisis
– Increasing threats of invasion
from eastern and western
borders
– 20 Emperors between 235 -284
AD
• All but 1 died violently
Attempts at Reform
• Emperors Diocletian and Constantine
attempt to reform Rome and slow its
decline
Diocletian
Constantine
Division of the Empire
• The Emperor Diocletian
divides the Empire into
the East and West
– Appoints a co-emperor
to run the west
– Wanted to make the
empire easier to
manage by reducing its
size
– Increases his own
power over the
government and society
– Tax increases and
manufacturing activities
geared toward
defending the empire
Moving the Capital
• The Emperor
Constantine issues
the Edict of Milan
– Makes
Constantinople the
capital of the Roman
Empire
• Located in modern
day Turkey
• Eastern Empire was
richer from trade
and better protected
from barbarian
invasions
Social
Military
Reasons
for the Fall
of Rome
Economic
Political
Political Causes
• Government became
too strict and
oppressive
– People did not
support the
government
• Civil War and unrest
• Division of the
empire weakened
Rome
• Imperialism
– Roman expansion
increased number of
enemies
Social Causes
• People not interested in
public affairs
– Apathy
• Decline in patriotism and
loyalty to Rome
• Rise of Christianity
– People started to follow
the church leaders rather
than government
Economic Decline
• Did not have riches from war plunder
• very high taxes on people
– Needed to support the government and defend the
empire
• Inflation
– Dramatic rise in prices and devaluing of currency
• Heavy reliance on slave labor
• High unemployment of the working class
– Could not compete with low cost of goods from
foreign trade
– Plebs became dependent on assistance from the
government
Military
• Rome became too big to defend
• Roman army became undisciplined
and lacked training
• Romans forced to hire foreign
mercenaries
– Soldiers who fight for whoever will
pay them rather than loyalty to a
country or idea
• Invasions by Germanic tribes and
Huns(375-410 AD)
– Romans referred to them as
barbarians
– 476 AD Germanic tribes attack
Rome and overthrow the Roman
Emperor
• This is marked as the end of the
Roman Empire
•
Closure
• Identify two ways that Diocletian and
Constantine attempted to slow the
decline of Rome.
• What can we learn as a powerful
nation in the world from the fall of
the Roman Empire?