WHI: SOL 6k

Decline of the Roman Empire

Causes for the decline of the Western Roman Empire

• Geographic size: Difficulty of defense and administration

• Economy: The cost of defense, and devaluation of Roman currency

• Military: Army membership started to include non-Romans, resulting in decline of discipline

Causes for the decline of the Western Roman Empire

• Moral decay: People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

• Political problems: Civil conflict and weak administration

• Invasion: Attacks on borders by various Germanic tribes (Visigoths, Vandals, Goths, Huns, Ostrogoths)

Division of the Roman Empire• Diocletian divided the empire into East and West

to make management easier, cost less• Move of the capital by Constantine from Rome

to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople• Survival of the Western Roman Empire until 476

A.D. (C.E.), when it ceased to have a Roman Emperor

• Europe plunged into the Dark Ages for centuries• Eastern Roman Empire survives and becomes the

Byzantine Empire

End of the Roman Empire

• Western Roman Empire (Europe) plunges into the Middle Ages (476-1400’s a.d.)

• Centuries immediately after collapse of Roman Empire known as the Dark Ages cultural regression (going backwards), lack of unity

• Catholic Church becomes central power/authority in Europe