Crisis and division of the Empire
The Roman Empire 235AD
The crisis of the third century• Expansion of the Empire ended in the 3rd
century AD, bringing in a deep crisis:– Political crisis. The Roman army was defeated for the
first time by the Barbarians. The borders were not safe and the military leaders began to have control over the emperors
– Economic crisis. As the conquests ended there were fewer slaves to work. Economic activity decresed. The Empire became poorer
– Social crisis. Taxes increased and this caused migration from the cities to the country. The Empire became rural
The division of the EmpireTo face external pressures the emperor Theodosius divided the Empire in 395AD into the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire
Division of the Roman Empire 395 AD
Western RomanEmpire
Eastern RomanEmpire
Who were the Germanic tribes?
• The Germanic peoples came from the coasts of the Baltic Sea
• They started moving southwards in the 5th century, attracted by the Roman life, in search of fertile lands and a better climate
Invasions of Germanic tribes
The Germanic peoples• They were organised in
tribes.• The authority was held by
the assembly of warriors, which chose the chief.
• They lived in wooden houses
• Farming and agriculture: they were forced to move constantly
Attilla the Hun
Visigoth
OstrogothFrank
Anglo - Saxon
Suevi
Alans
Early Middle Ages 450AD
The Byzantine Empire
Spread of Islam 700 – 850AD
768AD Carolingian Empire
Western Roman Empire (a weak Empire that was taken over by Germanic Tribes e.g. Franks in France and Visigoths in Spain,
Byzantine Empire (a strong Empire it lasted until 1453)
Roman Empire (split in two so it was easier to defend)
Arabia was full of different tribes that worshipped many gods
Spain is conquered by The Islamic Empire and is ruled by the Caliphate of Cordoba
Carolingian Empire formed by Charlemagne and was made “Holy Roman Empire” by the Pope. It was split into smaller Kingdoms as land was divided between a King’s sons
Muhammad preached Islam, united Arabia and conquered much of North Africa and West Asia
SUMMARY
Germanic invasions
• The pressure of the Huns on the Germanic Tribes (Suebi, Vandals, Alans and Goths) led these tribes to migrate and cross the Empire’s frontiers
• In 476AD the Heruli put an end to the Western Roman Empire