The Decline and Fall of the Western Roman Empire

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The Decline and Fall of the Western Roman Empire

• Chapter 6
• Section 5

2
Essential Questions

• What caused the Roman Empire to split?
• What is the importance of Diocletian and
  Constantines reforms?
• What were the causes and results of the Roman
  decline?

3
3rd Century A.D.

• 235 284 A.D. 22 emperors
• Invasions by the Sassanid Persians and German
  tribes
• Plague
• Decline in trade and value of money
• Couldnt afford the army

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Diocletian (284 305 A.D.) and Constantine (306
337 A.D.)

• Divided Rome into 4 units
• Enlarged bureaucracies
• Increased armys size and mobility
• Moved capital to Byzantium (Constantinople)
  Bosphorus
• New economic system
• Forced people into certain jobs
• Ensured constant tax base

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7
Fall of Rome

• Empire divided into east and west
• 4th century Huns (Asia) moved into Eastern
  Europe, forced Visigoths into Roman Territory
• 410 Visigoths sacked Rome and later into Spain
  and Gaul
• Vandals take southern Spain and North Africa,
  sack Rome in 455
• 476 Romulus Augustulus killed by Germanic army
  (generally considered end of Roman Empire)
• Eastern Roman Empire continued under rule of
  Constantinople (another 1000 years)

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Why did Rome Fall?

• Christianity weakened Roman military.
• Non-Italians take high positions in Roman empire.
• Lead poisoning?
• Plague
• Dependent on slavery.
• Failed political systems.