SHRINKING OF ROMAN EMPIRE

Theories behind the

shrink

by the 300s “barbarian” groups like the Goths had encroached beyond the Empire’s borders

410 the Visigoth King Alaric successfully sacked the city of Rome

The Empire spent the next several decades under constant threat before “the Eternal City” was raided again in 455this time by the Vandals

476, the Gerrmanic leader Odoacer staged a revolt and deposed the Emperor Romulus Augustulus

many cite 476 as the year the Western Empire suffered its deathblow

Invasion by Barbarians

While being attacked from the outside Rome was falling on the inside as well

Constant wars and overspending had significantly lightened imperial coffers

oppressive taxation and inflation had widened the gap between rich and poor

members of the wealthy classes had even fled to the countryside 

further blow came in the fifth century, when the Vandals claimed North Africa and began disrupting the empire’s trade by prowling the Mediterranean as pirates.

economy faltering and commercial and agricultural production in decline

the Empire began to lose its grip on Europe.

Economic troubles and overreliance on slave labor

late third century, the Emperor Diocletian divided the Empire into two halves◦ the Western Empire seated in the city of Milan◦ the Eastern Empire in Byzantium, later known as

Constantinople division made the empire more easily governable in

the short term, but over time the two halves drifted apart

 failed to adequately work together to combat outside threats, and the two often squabbled over resources and military aid. As the gulf widened, the largely Greek-speaking Eastern Empire grew in wealth while the Latin-speaking West descended into economic crisis

Rise of Eastern Empire

Constantine ensured that the city of Constantinople was fortified and well guarded, but Italy and the city of Rome were left vulnerable

Continue of the eastern ….

Roman Empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Euphrates River in the Middle East

That’s a lot of land to cover It was hard to keep up with all the

communication when they were trying to cover all this land

Rome struggled to marshal enough troops and resources to defend its frontiers from local rebellions and outside attacks

Overexpansion and military overspending

Became emperor when Nerva died Took the Roman Empire all the way to Darcia

(Modern day Rumania) Dacia had a lot of gold mines, and so Rome

became rich from all the gold Trajan also made Christianity illegal Trajan took the army to Western Asia and he

conquered a lot of land from the Parthians Created a road system to keep land connected Was a good emperor because he cared for the

people –public welfare & good government

Trajan 98-117 CE

Adopted by Trajan as a son, reality he was Hadrian’s nephew

He was not liked amongst the Roman Empire◦ Gave back the land they had conquered from Parthian’s

back to them ◦ He thought it was too expensive to keep it because it

was such a big area to cover◦ The army isn't too pleased with this◦ He doesn’t want to conquer land and he keeps giving

land away...boring◦ But PEACEFUL ◦ Defended weak against the strong and tried to cut

down taxes

Hadrian 117-138

by the second century the Emperor Hadrian was forced to build his famous wall in Britain to keep the enemy at bay (barbarians)

As more and more funds were funneled into the military upkeep of the empire

Other things had to be compromised…◦ technological advancement slowed and Rome’s

civil infrastructure fell into disrepair

Rome was a scary place to govern…people were scared to come to power

Civil war thrust the empire into chaos more than 20 men took the throne in

the span of only 75 years◦ … usually after the murder of their predecessor

Praetorian Guard- guards of the emperor would sometimes kill of the emperor and sell the seat to the highest bidder

Roman citizens lost trust in their leadership

Government Corruption

 Edict of Milan legalized Christianity in 313, and it later became the state religion in 380

Beliefs are shifting Christianity displaced the polytheistic

Roman religion Polytheistic roman religion

◦ viewed the emperor as having a divine status Christianity shifted focus away from the

glory of the state and onto a sole deity

Christianity 

popes and other church elders took an increased role in political affairs◦ Complicates things

What happens when religion gets involved ...

Politics and religion ?