Rome’s Decline Rome’s Decline

Many agree the decline of Rome Many agree the decline of Rome began after the death of the last of began after the death of the last of the 5 great emperors Marcus the 5 great emperors Marcus Aurelius Aurelius

During During Pax Romana Pax Romana trade flowed and trade flowed and the crops were plenty feeding the the crops were plenty feeding the entire population entire population

Decline Decline Inflation- drastic drop in the value of Inflation- drastic drop in the value of

money coupled with a rise in pricesmoney coupled with a rise in prices Military upheaval constant battle Military upheaval constant battle

with invaders led to military collapse. with invaders led to military collapse. Soldiers were no longer loyal to Soldiers were no longer loyal to Rome but CommandersRome but Commanders

Mercenaries- foreign soldiers fighting Mercenaries- foreign soldiers fighting for money for money

ReformReform Diocletian- restored order to the Diocletian- restored order to the

empire, strengthening the army, empire, strengthening the army, limiting personal freedom and limiting personal freedom and governing as absolute rulergoverning as absolute ruler

He divided the empire into the Greek He divided the empire into the Greek speaking East and the Latin speaking speaking East and the Latin speaking west. Diocletian ruling the East and west. Diocletian ruling the East and Maximus the West Maximus the West

This slowed the decline of the empire This slowed the decline of the empire but upon his retiring civil war but upon his retiring civil war immediately broke out leading to immediately broke out leading to Constantine's riseConstantine's rise

Constantine moves the capitol to Constantine moves the capitol to Byzantium the cross roads between Byzantium the cross roads between the east and west renaming it the east and west renaming it Constantinople Constantinople

Germanic invasion of Rome as been Germanic invasion of Rome as been going on since the days of Julius going on since the days of Julius CaesarCaesar

But it had greatly increased with the But it had greatly increased with the Huns moving in from Asia Huns moving in from Asia

In the early 5In the early 5thth century Germanic century Germanic tribes flooded into Roman territory tribes flooded into Roman territory raiding and lootingraiding and looting

In 408 a barbarian King Alaric In 408 a barbarian King Alaric marched across the Alps invading marched across the Alps invading Rome and plundering it for 3 daysRome and plundering it for 3 days

Attila the HunAttila the Hun With 100,000 soldiers he terrorized With 100,000 soldiers he terrorized

both east and west Rome but both east and west Rome but unsuccessfully attacked unsuccessfully attacked Constantinople Constantinople

Weakened by famine and disease Weakened by famine and disease Pope Leo I was able to negotiate a Pope Leo I was able to negotiate a with drawl with drawl

The last Roman emperor was over The last Roman emperor was over thrown in 476 by a Germanic general thrown in 476 by a Germanic general leading to the demise of Rome in the leading to the demise of Rome in the westwest

In the East they became the In the East they became the Byzantine Empire preserving the Byzantine Empire preserving the cultures of Greece and Rome cultures of Greece and Rome

The Legacy The Legacy Greco-Roman culture- the classical Greco-Roman culture- the classical

civilization, mixing of Greek, civilization, mixing of Greek, Hellenistic and Roman culture Hellenistic and Roman culture