The Fall of the
Roman Empire
Requirements:
Vocabulary
1. Terms numbered
2. Definition (provided)
3. Sentence using the term; highlight the term
4. Illustration that demonstrates that you understand
what the term means (i.e., stick figures or portraits
of a person are generally unable to demonstrate
your understanding)
1. Dictator
Definition: an absolute ruler who made rules and military
decisions on his own; did not share power with others
Sentence: Although my youngest sister thought that I was
a dictator growing up, I have to remind her that in fact, I shared
power with our other sister, which makes her dictator claim false.
Julius Caesar, however, was truly a dictator after he usurped
power from his triumvirate allies.
Picture:
Diocletian
• Strong-willed Roman
army leader; ruled with an
“Iron Fist”
• Claimed to be a
descendant of Roman
Gods; put on ceremonies
to demonstrate his
godliness
Diocletian
• Recognized the challenge of ruling a huge
empire; divided the Roman Empire in half –
East and West
Constantinople
• “The City of Constantine”
• After Diocletian retired a civil war broke out.
Eventually, Constantine gained control, rejoined
the East and West Roman Empire, and moved
the capital from Rome to Byzantium
• Byzantium was renamed Constantinople
Constantinople
Attila the Hun
• Brutal, ruthless Hun chieftain
• Notorious for destroying and plundering cities
• Forced Germanic
tribes into Rome
Mercenary
• Soldiers who fight for pay
• Often not even from Rome
• Power-hungry Romans would hire mercenaries to
fight for them
• This was problematic because mercenaries’
loyalty could be bought
• “Scab” soldiers
Inflation
• Economic problem in which the value of
money goes down AND prices for products
rise at the same time
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Cornell Notes
Factors that led to Rome’s decline
• A weak economy
• Military problems
• Problematic political decisions
• Social problems
Weak Economy
• Inflation - Coins less valuable; goods cost more
• Unfertile farmland yielded weak harvests
• Food shortages, disease
• Fixed prices (Diocletian)
THINK – PAIR – SHARE
Coins became less valuable because they contained less
silver. The value of money decreased and cost of goods
increased. Eventually the money system collapsed.
People were allowed to pay taxes in food, goods.
1. What problems might exist with this form of tax
collection?
2. Would this form of tax collection help the
crumbling empire or make it worse? Why?
Military Problems
• Lack of loyalty for the Roman Empire
• Mercenary culture allowed for widespread
attempts at “power grabs”
• Several civil wars
• Weak military; susceptible to invasions
(Germanic tribe due to Attila)
Quick Write
Which problem do you think was more
significant: a poor economy or weak
military? Why?
Problematic Political Decisions
• Diocletian divided the Roman Empire, fixed
prices and limited individual freedoms
• Constantine rejoined the East & West Roman
Empires, but after his death, another civil war
began and the East & West were again divided
Social Problems
• People were less interested in public affairs
• Lack of patriotism
• Social classes deeply divided
• Less people due to food shortages and
disease
Quick Write
Do you think different leaders could
have saved the Roman Empire?
Why/why not?
The Collapse
• The Western Empire succumbed to German
forces
• The Eastern Empire held on and flourished for
1,000 more years; known as the Byzantine
Empire
• The Byzantine Empire continued to spread Greek
and Roman ideas
Cornell Notes Summary
1. Describe the fall of the Roman
Empire.
2. Which of the factors do you think
was/were the most significant in the
fall of the Roman Empire? Why?