The Fall of RomeFor centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire was the most powerful

state in the ancient world. Rome continued to expand to include 3 continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Roman Empire Expansion

Emperor Septimus Serverus193 – 211 CE

• Senate’s power no longer recognized• Authority came from the military.• Emperor of Rome became an absolute ruler; dominus, or lord.

• Military generals became Emperors, tax collectors, and administrators.

• The Empire established by Serverus continued until 234AD

• Dark Years for the Empire.

A Difficult Period

• Foreign invaders….nibbling at the fringes of Rome..

• No structure in place to appoint a successor to Rome’s throne.

• Result?

• Murder, chaos, civil wars. Armies and leaders fighting for control.

A Difficult Period

• Countryside

• Chaotic and tenuous (weak)

• Armies not only fighting each other, also taking from farms, villas and country estates to ensure their own survival.

• Led to Economic decline in the Empire….

• Towns begin to isolate themselves…only trading locally…afraid to market produce in goods in next city …fear of being robbed or murdered by the soldiers

Decline in Trade

• Caused shortages and therefore inflation, money (coins) has less value …putting less silver and gold into them

• A near economic collapse in Roman Empire

Scattered Framework of Cities

• Each pursuing their own economic, social and political goals.

• The decline was faster in the western half of the Empire.

• This caused the emperors to give support to the eastern part of the Empire to try to save al leas half, instead of losing the whole Roman State.

Diocletian (284—305) and the Division of the Roman Empire

These included splitting the Empire into two in

order to be more manageable, creating a new system of Imperial succession to answer the question of who

would be Emperor of the newly divided East and West, called the system of "Tetrarchy", or "rule

of four", whereby a senior emperor would

rule in the East and West, and each would have a junior emperor.

Diocletian believed that going forward under the current system of Roman Imperial government was unsustainable. He initiated a number of reforms to prevent a return to the anarchy of previous generations and maintain the viability of the Empire.

Political Causes •Oppressive government, loss of popular support

•Increased government corruption

•Division of empire – Too large to control

•Internal power struggles – Lack of organized system of succession

Constantine (306-337) Constantine is famed for his rebuilding of Byzantium as Constantinople (Constantine's City). Constantine is best remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan in 313

and the Council of Nicaea in 325, which fully legalized and legitimized Christianity in the Empire for the first

time.

These actions are considered major factors

in the spread of Christianity and helped to

give him the title of the "first Christian Emperor."

Economic

Causes •Increase in taxes to support army and bureaucracy

•Reliance on slave labor

•Indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners

•Unemployment

•Welfare system

Social Causes

•Population decline caused by war and disease

•Decline in patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty

•Spread of Christianity

•Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest

•Bread and Circus (poor)

Military Causes

•Poorly trained armies

•Army deteriorates

•Little loyalty among hired soldiers

•Threat of the Huns

•Series of Germanic invasions beginning in 3rd century

External Forces

The warmer climate, rich farmlands, and wealth of the Roman lands attracted the Germanic

tribes. By the 5th century, the Roman Empire was overrun by barbarians.

Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed the Roman frontier and invaded Greece, Italy, Spain, and coastal areas of Asia Minor.

Attila the HunAttila the Hun was King of the

Huns (circa 433-53). He was one of the most feared and notorious

barbarians of all time.

Sweeping west across the Rhine River into Gaul, Attila's forces fought the Romans at the Battle of Châlons in 451 CE. Against all odds, the

Huns were defeated. Attila later died mysteriously, some say of a massive nose bleed. Attila’s retreat across the Rhine was the last

victory achieved in the name of the Western Roman Empire.

Odoacer

Odoacer (435 – 493), was the half Hunnish, half Scirian chieftain of the Germanic Heruli. He is best known to history as the man who deposed the

last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, in 476. As the first “barbarian king” of Italy, 476 is traditionally considered the end of the

Western Roman Empire.

The Fall of Rome

Once the Roman army could no longer defend its borders, Germanic tribes began pouring into Europe. One Roman province fell after another. In 476 A.D., the Western Roman

emperor was overthrown. Odoacer was then proclaimed king of Italy. The ancient world was drawing to a close.

•Increase in taxes to support army and bureaucracy

•Poorly trained armies

•Division of empire

•Population decline caused by war and disease

•Little loyalty among hired soldiers

•Decline in patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty

•Reliance on slave labor

•Oppressive government, loss of popular support

•Internal power struggles

•Series of Germanic invasions

•Indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners

•Devotion of upper classes to luxury and self-interest

•Increased government corruption

Causes of the Decline of Rome