THE FALL OF ROMETHE FALL OF ROME

Ten causes for the Fall of Ten causes for the Fall of RomeRome

► 1. Barbarian Invasions1. Barbarian Invasions► 2. Decline in Morals and Values2. Decline in Morals and Values► 3. Environmental / Public health3. Environmental / Public health► 4. Excess military spending4. Excess military spending► 5. Inferior Technology5. Inferior Technology► 6. Inflation6. Inflation► 7. Political Corruption7. Political Corruption► 8. Rise in Christianity8. Rise in Christianity► 9. Unemployment9. Unemployment► 10. Urban Decay10. Urban Decay

1. Barbarian Invasions1. Barbarian Invasions

►By the 4By the 4thth Century AD many Germanic Century AD many Germanic tribes were invading the Roman Empire tribes were invading the Roman Empire crossing the Rhine and Danube Rivers.crossing the Rhine and Danube Rivers.

► In AD 378 the Visigoths (a Germanic In AD 378 the Visigoths (a Germanic group) defeated the Romans at the group) defeated the Romans at the Battle of Adrianople.Battle of Adrianople.

►By AD 476, the last Roman emperor By AD 476, the last Roman emperor was overthrown in Rome as a Gothic was overthrown in Rome as a Gothic leader, Odoacer, captured Rome.leader, Odoacer, captured Rome.

2. Decline on Morals and 2. Decline on Morals and ValuesValues

►The flooding to the cities of migrants The flooding to the cities of migrants and unemployed led to rising crime and unemployed led to rising crime rates.rates.

►Many wealthy Romans stopped paying Many wealthy Romans stopped paying taxes and became corrupt.taxes and became corrupt.

► Increase in blood sports led to high Increase in blood sports led to high crime and violence in the streets.crime and violence in the streets.

3. Public Health3. Public Health

►Lead poisoning from lead pipesLead poisoning from lead pipes►Alcoholism was a growing problemAlcoholism was a growing problem►Contagious diseases spread through Contagious diseases spread through

citiescities►Rise in homeless attributed to a Rise in homeless attributed to a

declining economy.declining economy.

4. Excess Military Spending4. Excess Military Spending

►The Romans had to spend a large The Romans had to spend a large portion of their tax revenues on portion of their tax revenues on defending the empire.defending the empire.

►Foreign soldiers were hired and were Foreign soldiers were hired and were expensive and were not reliable.expensive and were not reliable.

►Constant barbarian attacks was a Constant barbarian attacks was a constant strain on the Roman treasury constant strain on the Roman treasury

5. Inferior Technology5. Inferior Technology

►Romans relied on slave labor and did Romans relied on slave labor and did not create new forms of labor not create new forms of labor technology.technology.

►The Romans were no longer able to The Romans were no longer able to conquer other civilizations and adapt conquer other civilizations and adapt their technology.their technology.

►Roman soldiers were fighting Roman soldiers were fighting barbarians with increasingly better barbarians with increasingly better weapons, armor, and tactics. weapons, armor, and tactics.

Why didn’t RomanTechnology continueTo improve over time?

6. Inflation6. Inflation

►Romans started putting less gold into Romans started putting less gold into their coinstheir coins

►Gold was used for luxury items and not Gold was used for luxury items and not coins and people stopped valuing coins and people stopped valuing coins.coins.

►People started to barter and this People started to barter and this caused trouble in the empire.caused trouble in the empire.

Less gold in the coins decreasedThe value and increased inflation.

7. Political Corruption7. Political Corruption

►No laws how to select an emperor led to No laws how to select an emperor led to civil wars and political assassinationscivil wars and political assassinations

►During a 100 year period, Rome had 37 During a 100 year period, Rome had 37 different emperors and 25 were different emperors and 25 were assassinated.assassinated.

►Wealthy leaders were able to pay for Wealthy leaders were able to pay for political officepolitical office

►The Praetorian Guard (Rome’s guard) The Praetorian Guard (Rome’s guard) were bribed to support certain leaders were bribed to support certain leaders over othersover others

8. Rise in Christianity8. Rise in Christianity

►Many historians feel that as the Many historians feel that as the Romans became more Christian they Romans became more Christian they became less warlike and were unable became less warlike and were unable to defend the empire.to defend the empire.

►As Christians many Romans turned to As Christians many Romans turned to Jesus and not the emperor as the Jesus and not the emperor as the leader.leader.

9. Unemployment9. Unemployment

►Small farmers lost land to large farms Small farmers lost land to large farms owned by wealthy Romans. These large owned by wealthy Romans. These large farms were called farms were called latifundiaslatifundias..

►Small farmers had to pay for workers Small farmers had to pay for workers larger farming plantations used slaves larger farming plantations used slaves and had less costs.and had less costs.

►Many farmers became unemployed and Many farmers became unemployed and fled to the cities (making the cities fled to the cities (making the cities overcrowded)overcrowded)

10. Urban Decay10. Urban Decay

►Most Romans were not wealthy and Most Romans were not wealthy and lived in small crowded apartment lived in small crowded apartment houses called an houses called an insulaeinsulae. .

►The living conditions were dirty and this The living conditions were dirty and this causes sicknesscauses sickness

►Some public buildings became Some public buildings became expensive to maintain and started to expensive to maintain and started to fall apartfall apart

►Places became abandoned as the poor Places became abandoned as the poor couldn’t afford to live there anymore. couldn’t afford to live there anymore.

Detroit c. 2014