decline and fall big idea: germanic tribes help bring the empire to its end
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DECLINE AND FALL
Big Idea: Germanic tribes help bring the empire to its end.
Problems and upheavals
Pax Roma ends 100yrs instability
civil wars- military government (22 emperors). Almost economic collapse.
Reforms Diocletian
empire west & east -4 co-emperors.• Constantine • new eastern capital Constantinople- • Rome -western capital
• Christianity.• Population not growing • taxes couldn't fund army & gov. • Inflation (decrease in money value =rise in
prices)• Diocletian- price edict, set wages & prices.
The FallGermanic Tribes- threaten western empire.
Huns (Asia) invade EuropeVisigoths & Vandals -into Roman
territory.In 476 A.D. Romulus Augustus was
deposed of by Germans- Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Theories of Decline -Western Roman Empire1. Christianity -weakened Roman
military virtues.2. Traditional Roman values decline3. Lead poisoning in water pipes
&cups-mental decline in population.
4. Plague5. Failed to advance technologically
due to slavery6. Couldn’t create workable political
system. No single explanation can explain by
itself.
5-5 Section ReviewWhat was the epidemic
disease?PlagueDiocletian and Constantine did
what?Enlarge the army, enlarge the
civil service and force people to stay in jobs.
What was Constantine’s capital?
ConstantinopleThe Western Roman Empire
was besieged by what?Huns, Visigoths, and Germanic
tribes
5-5 Section ReviewWho deposed western emperor?Romulus AugustulusWhat were theories about why
the Roman Empire declined?A decline of old values,
Christianity, the plagueWhat is a rapid increase in
pricesInflationAfter the last “good emperor,”
Marcus Aurelius, died in A.D. 180, what happened?
Conflict and confusion followed
5-5 Section ReviewWho sacked Rome in 455?The VandalsDiocletian dived the empire
into what?Four units