The Decline of the Roman Empire

Powerpoint presentation created by Robert L. MartinezPrimary content source: Prentice Hall World HistoryImages as cited.

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• Aim: Why did the Western Roman Empire come to an end in 476?

• Do Now – Fill out Section 4 Quiz

After the death of the emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180, the golden age of the Pax

Romana ended. For the next 100 years, political and economic turmoil rocked the

Roman empire.

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1. Political instabilityAgain and again, emperors were overthrown by

ambitious generals.

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In one 50 year period, at least 26 emperors reigned. Only one died of natural causes.

Political violence and instability, rather than order and efficiency - became the rule.

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2. Economic crisis High taxes to support the army, and the

bureaucracy placed heavy burdens on business people and small farmers.

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Farmland that had been over-cultivated for too many years lost its productivity.

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Many poor farmers left their land and sought protection from wealthy landowners.

Technically free, they were not allowed to leave the land.

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3. Failure of reforms284 Diocletian reforms set out to restore order. To make the empire easier to govern, he divided the

empire into two parts.

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To slow inflation, he fixed prices for goods and services.

Other laws forced farmers to remain on the land. In cities, sons were required to follow their

fathers’ occupations.

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In 312, the talented general Constantine gained the throne. As emperor,

Constantine continued Diocletian’s reforms except for two major exceptions.

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First, Constantine granted toleration for Christians. By doing so, he encouraged the

rapid growth of Christianity within the empire.

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Second, he built a new capital, Constantinople, making the eastern portion

of the empire, the center of power. The western Roman empire was in decline, but

the east enjoyed more people and resources.

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These reforms helped hold the empire together for another century. Still, the reforms failed to

stop the long-term decline

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Other Problems

Military Weakness – mercenary armies

Diseases – plagues kill millions

Christianity?

For centuries, Rome had faced attacks from the Germanic peoples who lived east of the Rhine

and north of the Danube rivers.

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The Huns, a nomadic people, migrating across Central Asias fought fierce battles to dislodge

the Germanic peoples in their path.

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In 410, the Visigoth general Alaric overran Italy and plundered Rome.

Gradually, other Germanic peoples occupied more and more of the western Roman empire.

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For Rome, the worst was yet to come. Starting in 434, the Hun leader Attila embarked on a savage campaign of conquest across much of Europe.

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Finally, in 476, Odoacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor in Rome.

Later, the historians referred to that event as the “fall” of Rome.

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The passing of Rome’s power and greatness was a major turning point in the

history of western civilization. But why did the Roman empire fall?

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BARBARIAN INVASIONSThe most obvious cause of Rome’s fall was the

Germanic invasions. Still, these attacks were successful in part

because of the weakness of the Roman army.

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POLITICAL PROBLEMSAs the government became more oppressive and authoritarian, it lost the support of the

people. Corrupt officials undermined loyalty.

Frequent civil wars over succession to the imperial throne.

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DIVISION OF THE EMPIREDividing the empire when it was under attack may have further weakened it. The richer eastern Roman empire did

little to support the west.

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ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Heavy taxes were required to support the

vast government bureaucracy and huge military establishment.

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SLAVERYReliance on slave labor discouraged Romans from

exploring new technology. Wealth of the empire dwindled as farmers

abandoned their land and the middle classes sank into poverty.

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DISEASES

In addition, the population declined as war and epidemic diseases swept the empire.

SOCIAL PROBLEMSRomans pointed to the decline in values such as patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty

on which the empire was built. The need to replace citizen soldiers with

mercenaries showed the decline of patriotism.

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DECADENCE OF RULING CLASSThe upper class, which had once provided leaders, devoted itself

to luxury and self-interest.

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