The Decline of the The Decline of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Ch 6 Sec 4Ch 6 Sec 4

ROME FACES MILITARY ROME FACES MILITARY UPHEAVALUPHEAVAL

Barbarians (All Barbarians (All non-Romans) non-Romans) invadeinvade

Discipline and Discipline and LOYALTY LOYALTY declinedecline

Mercenaries – Mercenaries – hired hired FOREIGN FOREIGN soldierssoldiers

Invaders Overrun Western Invaders Overrun Western EmpireEmpire

INVADERS OVERRUN THE INVADERS OVERRUN THE WESTERN EMPIRE : 376-476WESTERN EMPIRE : 376-476

The The GERMANS GERMANS invade invade from Asiafrom Asia

Germanic Germanic Tribes from Tribes from the Norththe North

INVADERS OVERRUN THE INVADERS OVERRUN THE WESTERN EMPIRE: 376- 476WESTERN EMPIRE: 376- 476

Attila the Attila the Hun Hun attacked attacked both both Halves Halves of the of the Empire Empire in 444-in 444-455455

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to the Fall of Romethe Fall of Rome

IMMEDIATE CAUSESIMMEDIATE CAUSES– Pressure from HunsPressure from Huns– *Invasion by Germanic tribes *Invasion by Germanic tribes

(Barbarians) and by Huns(Barbarians) and by Huns– Sack of RomeSack of Rome– Conquest by invadersConquest by invaders– *Too big to control*Too big to control– *Many corrupt leaders & politicians*Many corrupt leaders & politicians

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to the Fall of Romethe Fall of Rome

PoliticalPolitical–Political office seen as burden, Political office seen as burden, not rewardnot reward

–Military interference in politicsMilitary interference in politics–Civil War and UnrestCivil War and Unrest–Division of EmpireDivision of Empire–Moving of Capital to Moving of Capital to ByzantiaumByzantiaum

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to the Fall of Romethe Fall of Rome

SocialSocial–Decline in interest in public Decline in interest in public AffairsAffairs

–Low confidence in empireLow confidence in empire–Disloyalty, lack of Patriotism, Disloyalty, lack of Patriotism, *corruption*corruption

–Contrast between rich and poorContrast between rich and poor

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to the Fall of Romethe Fall of Rome

EconomicEconomic– Poor harvestsPoor harvests– Disruption of TradeDisruption of Trade– No more war plunderNo more war plunder– Gold and silver drain – EXPORTSGold and silver drain – EXPORTS– InflationInflation– Crushing Tax BurdenCrushing Tax Burden– Widening gap between rich and poor Widening gap between rich and poor

and increasing impoverished Western and increasing impoverished Western EmpireEmpire

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to the Fall of Romethe Fall of Rome

MilitaryMilitary–Threat from northern European Threat from northern European tribestribes

–Low funds for defenseLow funds for defense–Problems recruiting Roman Problems recruiting Roman citizens; recruiting of non-Romanscitizens; recruiting of non-Romans

–Decline of patriotism and loyalty Decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiersamong soldiers

Fall of Rome-ResultsFall of Rome-Results*Immediate result from the *Immediate result from the

fall of Rome was a period of fall of Rome was a period of disorder and weak central disorder and weak central government=Middle Agesgovernment=Middle Ages

Invaders Overrun the Invaders Overrun the Western Empire: Fall of Western Empire: Fall of

RomeRomeContributing Factors

Political Social Economic Military

Pressure from Huns Barbarian Invasions Sack of Rome Conquest of Invaders

Romans Empire’s Fall

Immediate Causes

Invaders Overrun the Invaders Overrun the Western Empire: Fall of Western Empire: Fall of

RomeRomeContributing Factors

Political Social Economic MilitaryPolitical Office seen as Decline in interest in Poor Harvest Threat from Northernburden, not reward public affairs Disruption of trade European tribesMilitary interference in Low Confidence in No more war plunder Problems recruitingpolitics empire Gold and silver drain Roman Citizens; Civil war and unrest Disloyalty, lack of Inflation recruiting non-RomansDivision of Empire patriotism, corruption Crushing tax burden Decline of patriotismMoving of capital to Byzantium Contrast between rich Widening economic disparity and loyalty among

and poor Widening gap between rich and poor soldiersLow funds for defense

Pressure from Huns Barbarian Invasions Sack of Rome Conquest of Invaders

Romans Empire’s Fall

Immediate Causes