Introduction QuestionIntroduction Question

►How do people respond today to How do people respond today to difficult economic or political difficult economic or political instability?instability?

Our MissionOur Mission

► To summarize the To summarize the decline of the decline of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

► To descTo describe the ribe the reforms of Diocletian reforms of Diocletian and Constantineand Constantine

► To trace the fall of To trace the fall of the Western Roman the Western Roman EmpireEmpire

The End of the The End of the Pax RomanaPax Romana

►Death of Marcus Death of Marcus Aurelius (161 – Aurelius (161 – 180 C.E.)180 C.E.)

►Marks the decline Marks the decline of the Roman of the Roman EmpireEmpire

Factors leading to the Factors leading to the DeclineDecline

►Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

►Military ProblemsMilitary Problems

►Political ProblemsPolitical Problems

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

► Trade disrupted due to Trade disrupted due to hostile barbarian tribes hostile barbarian tribes and Mediterranean piratesand Mediterranean pirates

► Lack of new gold & silver Lack of new gold & silver sourcessources

► Solution: Raised taxesSolution: Raised taxes Problem: InflationProblem: Inflation

► Agriculture suffers due to Agriculture suffers due to overworked soil & waroverworked soil & war Result: Food shortagesResult: Food shortages

Military & Political ProblemsMilitary & Political Problems

► Roman soldiers less Roman soldiers less loyal & disciplinedloyal & disciplined

► Allegiance to generals Allegiance to generals vs. Romevs. Rome

► Mercenaries/barbarians Mercenaries/barbarians recruited to protect the recruited to protect the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

► Roman citizens lose Roman citizens lose patriotismpatriotism Result: IndifferenceResult: Indifference

The coming of the BarbariansThe coming of the Barbarians

Reform-Minded Reform-Minded EmperorsEmperors

►Diocletian (C.E. 284)Diocletian (C.E. 284) Strict rule w/ limited Strict rule w/ limited

personal freedomspersonal freedoms Restores strength & Restores strength &

orderorder Doubles army sizeDoubles army size Claims divinity to Claims divinity to

gain respectgain respect Divides empire into Divides empire into

Latin west and Greek Latin west and Greek easteast

► Constantine (C.E. 312)Constantine (C.E. 312) Gains control of Gains control of

Western Empire in 312Western Empire in 312 Gains control of entire Gains control of entire

empire in 324empire in 324 Moves capital from Moves capital from

Rome to Byzantium 330Rome to Byzantium 330 Switches for trade and Switches for trade and

protection purposesprotection purposes East now more East now more

wealthier and powerfulwealthier and powerful

ConstantinopleConstantinople

Fall of the Western Roman Fall of the Western Roman EmpireEmpire

► Roman Empire always surrounded by Germanic Roman Empire always surrounded by Germanic tribes to the Northtribes to the North

►Germanic tribes pushed by the Huns in C.E. Germanic tribes pushed by the Huns in C.E. 370 370

► Barbarians (non-Romans) push into Western Barbarians (non-Romans) push into Western EmpireEmpire

► C.E. 410 Barbarians sack RomeC.E. 410 Barbarians sack Rome

Attila the HunAttila the Hun

►Unites Huns in C.E. Unites Huns in C.E. 444 (Mongol 444 (Mongol nomads)nomads)

►Terrorizes both Terrorizes both halves of the halves of the Roman Empire till Roman Empire till C.E. 453 (death of C.E. 453 (death of Attila)Attila)

Fall of the Roman EmpireFall of the Roman Empire► Western Western

EmpireEmpire Falls in C.E. Falls in C.E.

476 to 476 to Germanic Germanic forcesforces

Splits into Splits into various various provinces provinces (modern (modern Europe)Europe)

► Eastern Eastern EmpireEmpire Preserves Preserves

Greco-Greco-Roman Roman cultureculture

Falls in C.E. Falls in C.E. 1453 to the 1453 to the Ottoman Ottoman EmpireEmpire