12/17 focus- 12/17 focus- – events and conditions inside and outside the roman empire weakened it...
TRANSCRIPT
• 12/17 Focus-– Events and conditions inside and
outside the Roman Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in 476 AD.
• Do Now: – Identify the role Paul of Tarsus played in
the establishment of the early Christian church.
Review• Fill in the Venn diagram by identifying the characteristics that are unique to
Judaism and Christianity on the left or right and the similar characteristics in the center.
Monotheistic
Torah New Testament
10 Commandments
BibleSalvation by following the teachings of Jesus
Formed from the beliefs of the Hebrews
Ancient RomeThe Fall of Rome
The Fall of Rome• Pax Romana comes to end
when Emperor Marcus Aurelius dies
• Weak leadership could not solve problems facing the empire– Economic crisis – Increasing threats of invasion
from eastern and western borders– 20 Emperors between 235 -284
AD• All but 1 died violently
Attempts at Reform• Emperors Diocletian and Constantine
attempt to reform Rome and slow its decline
Diocletian Constantine
Division of the Empire
• The Emperor Diocletian divides the Empire into the East and West– Appoints a co-emperor
to run the west– Wanted to make the
empire easier to manage by reducing its size
– Increases his own power over the government and society
– Tax increases and manufacturing activities geared toward defending the empire
Moving the Capital • The Emperor
Constantine issues the Edict of Milan – Makes
Constantinople the capital of the Roman Empire• Located in modern
day Turkey• Eastern Empire was
richer from trade and better protected from barbarian invasions
Reasons for the Fall
of Rome
Social
Political
Economic
Military
Political Causes
• Government became too strict and oppressive– People did not
support the government
• Civil War and unrest
• Division of the empire weakened Rome
• Imperialism– Roman expansion
increased number of enemies
Social Causes• People not interested
in public affairs– Apathy
• Decline in patriotism and loyalty to Rome
• Rise of Christianity– People started to follow
the church leaders rather than government
Economic Decline
• Did not have riches from war plunder• very high taxes on people– Needed to support the government and defend
the empire• Inflation– Dramatic rise in prices and devaluing of
currency• Heavy reliance on slave labor • High unemployment of the working class– Could not compete with low cost of goods from
foreign trade– Plebs became dependent on assistance from
the government
Military • Rome became too big to defend• Roman army became
undisciplined and lacked training• Romans forced to hire foreign
mercenaries– Soldiers who fight for whoever will
pay them rather than loyalty to a country or idea
• Invasions by Germanic tribes and Huns(375-410 AD)– Romans referred to them as
barbarians– 476 AD Germanic tribes attack
Rome and overthrow the Roman Emperor• This is marked as the end of the
Roman Empire
•
Closure
• Identify two ways that Diocletian and Constantine attempted to slow the decline of Rome.
• What can we learn as a powerful nation in the world from the fall of the Roman Empire?