World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

Problems and Upheavals

During the reign of ________________________, the last of the five “good

emperors,” a number of catastrophes struck Rome.

After his death in 180AD, more conflict, confusion, and civil war followed.

After the civil wars, a new _____________________________ took over

Rome.

o The leaders were told, “Enrich the soldiers, and _______________

everyone else.”

o From 235-284 the Roman throne was held by whomever had the ___________________________ to seize it.

There were ________ emperors, most of whom died

violently.

World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

___________________ and _______________ almost caused an economic

collapse in the 3rd century.

There was a decline in __________ and small industry.

Farm production struggled as crops were ravaged by invaders.

Financial strains made it hard to maintain the army and pay soldiers.

o Tried hiring _______________ to fight in the army, but they had no

loyalty to the Roman Empire.

Reforms of Emperors

Diocletian (284-305) thought the empire had grown too large for a single

ruler.

o Divided it into ______ parts (___________ and ____________)

o Then those parts were halved again (_______________________,

“rule by _____________”)

Constantine (306-337) hoped to slow Rome’s decline.

o Built a new capital city in the east on the side of the old Greek city of

_________________________.

o The city was renamed ____________________________ (now it’s

________________________________)

World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

Moving to Constantinople Strategically placed both militarily

and economically.o _______________ to the important ___________________________

o Literally on the “_________________________________________”

between Europe and the Middle East.

It was a very well built city with almost perfect defenses.

o ___________________________________ (walls)

o Navy can protect the sides on water.

Became the center of “_________________” for the Eastern Roman Empire.

Economic Crisis

The expansion of the government and the army created a demand for

___________________________.

o But the population was not growing, so there weren’t enough _______

to pay for the demands.

o Roman money began to lose its value _______________________

The emperors created policies that forced people to stay in their

_________________________________________, which meant jobs were

going to be hereditary.

Double fortification! Several layers of walls!

World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

End of the Western Roman Empire After Constantine’s death the empire remained divided between east and

west.

By 395 AD the two parts were working independently from each other.

o In the 5th century (400s) the ________________ half was still instact

under the Roman emperor in ______________________________.

o The _________________ half had an administrative collapse and

suffered invasions by ___________________.

Invasions

378AD: Displaced ______________________________ defeated the

Roman army in battle.

Increasing numbers of Germans crossed into Rome.

410AD: Visigoths sacked Rome, then moved on to Spain and Gaul (France).

World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

455AD: ____________________________ ravaged Rome.

Now all the western provinces of the Roman Empire had been taken over by

Germanic peoples.

____________: The boy emperor, Romulus Auustulus, was deposed (kicked

out of power, but not killed) in Rome.

o ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Significance

Lost all ___________ in transportation, education, and trade.

__________________________ lead to peasant revolts and chaos.

More ________________________ caused further division of the region.

Increasing numbers of Germans crossed into Rome.

410AD: Visigoths sacked Rome, then moved on to Spain and Gaul (France).

World HistoryTeacher: Miss BunnellThe Fall of Rome

TheoriesMany theories have been proposed by historians to explain the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

1) Christianity’s emphasis on a ______________________________

weakened Roman military values.

2) Traditional Roman values _________________ as ____________________

gained prominence in the empire.

3) Lead poisoning through leaden water pipes and cups caused a mental decline

in the population.

4) ______________ wiped out _______ of the population.

5) Rome failed to advance technologically due to slavery.

6) Rome could not create a workable _____________________________