Should Rome have asked, Should Rome have asked, “Where is the enemy?”?“Where is the enemy?”?

Empire Crumbles When the last of the

“good emperors,” Marcus Aurelius died . . .

. . . He left his son, Commodus, in power. He was a savage

ruler. He loved the

bloodshed of the Gladiators.

He bribed the army to support him.

Empire Crumbles This began the

decline of Roman Empire.

Commodus was not the only cause for decline . . .

Many INTERNAL problems led to the end.

#1 Weak Corrupt Rulers

After Commodus, emperors were a succession of generals, not politicians.

They stole money from treasury to enrich themselves.

They had to pay off soldiers.

#1 Weak Corrupt Rulers

The government and economy fell to pieces. (inflation)

The senate lost its power.

Emperors were not safe.

In 104 years, there were 29 emperors.

. . . most were murdered (assassinated).

#2 Mercenary Army The Roman Army had

been made of citizen- soldiers, ready to defend their land.

The Roman Army had been made of citizen- soldiers, ready to conquer new lands, to receive “payment” of real value.

#2 Mercenary Army The army was

later filled with mercenaries- foreign soldiers fighting for pay-for personal gain.

Rome’s strength

had depended on loyal army.

#3 The Size of the Empire The empire had grown

too large to be ruled from one place.

Enemies from Asia, Africa and Northern Europe, attacked.

Tribes that had been conquered poured over the borders causing the empire to shrink.

#4 Serious Economic Problems

Eventually Rome stopped conquering new lands. no new sources of

wealth no new resources

Taxes became heavier.

Huge unemployment developed.

Rome paid an army that would not always fight.

#4 Serious Economic Problems

Food became scarce, inflation common.

Government made coins to pay for food; prices went up.

Less value in money, value based on silver, but with less and . . .

. . . less silver per coin, becoming worthless.

Trying to Stop Decline Some emperors

made efforts to stop decline of Empire.

Diocletian-- persecuted

Christians worked to

strengthen Rome

enlarged army Built new forts

at borders

Trying to Stop Decline Diocletian

(continued) improved tax

collection had money to

pay army divided empire

in two to make it easier to rule

chose the wealthy East, co-ruler given declining West

Romans Accept Christianity

Diocletian retired and so did his co-ruler, leading to years of civil war.

Generals fought each other.

In A.D. 312 Constantine, a general, stood near a bridge with his troops, with a battle about to begin. . .

Romans Accept Christianity

The sun broke through the clouds in the form of a cross, with the words, ”Under this sign you will conquer.”

Crosses were put on his soldiers’ shields; they enjoyed an overwhelming victory.

He believed the message came from Christian God; he vowed to become a Christian.

Romans Accept Christianity

Under Constantine, Christianity was

legalized and supported.

Freedom to worship was not limited.

Christianity soon became official religion.

Capital was moved to Byzantium, renamed Constantinople.

Fall of Rome (external factors,

the attacks on Rome) Constantine struggled to

keep the empire together. At his death, invaders

swept across the borders. They overwhelmed the

empire. Invaders came from tribes

to the north; Rome had defeated these tribes earlier, but they were too weak now.

Fall of Rome (external factors,

the attacks on Rome) Goths- wore black, white

faces like ghosts Vandals- destroyed parts

of the city and painted it in blood

Huns- used Roman tactics against them led by Attila

Visigoths- winged helmets, stole most of food like vultures

Fall of Rome (external factors,

the attacks on Rome) Rome was captured and

looted. Roman emperor was

powerless. Romulus Augustus

14 years old Captured by German general Sent to work on a farm

No ruler remained in the West. A new Empire began in the

East in Byzantium, called Byzantine Empire.