Date: Period

Date: _______________ Period: __________

Chapter 6.4: The Decline of the Roman Empire

1. 
   List at least 3 major reforms of Diocletian
   

• 
  Governed as an absolute ruler…limited freedoms
  
• 
  Doubled size of Roman army…included POW’s and mercenaries
  
• 
  Set fixed prices for goods to control inflation
  
• 
  Ordered farmers and workers to stay in their jobs for life
  
• 
  Divided the empire into west and east
  

2. 
   Who was Constantine? (Time Period, Location, Key Achievements)
   

3. 
   Who was Attila? (Time Period, Location, Key Achievements)
   

• 
  Chieftain of the Huns, who united them in 444 AD…pillaged many cities within the Roman Empire, advanced on Rome, but withdrew after negotiating with Pope Leo I
  

Chapter 6.4: The Decline of the Roman Empire

1. 
   A Century of Crisis
   

• 
  Roman Empire began its decline at the end of the reign of the last Five Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius (AD161-180)
  
• 
  Empire greatly weakened by majority of the subsequent emperors
  

1. 
   Rome’s Economy Declines
   

• 
  Pax Romana- trade flowed over secure trade routes patrolled by Roman legions and ships
  
• 
  Gold and silver was confiscated from conquered areas
  
• 
  The Empire’s farms grew enough grain to feed the population of the cities
  
• 
  During the 3^rd century AD, all three sources of prosperity evaporated
  
• 
  Hostile tribes outside the empire and pirates on the Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade
  
• 
  Frequent wars were costly
  
• 
  Wealthy spent so much money on luxury goods from India and China and Arabia, that the empire was drained of gold and silver
  
• 
  Empire’s expansion had ended, so there were no new sources of precious metals
  
• 
  With the rising cost of defense, the government raised taxes
  
• 
  Also minted coins that contained less and less silver (making them less valuable)
  
• 
  Economy suffered from inflation= drastic drop in value of money coupled with a rise in prices
  
• 
  Agricultural problems: harvest in Italy and western Europe became increasingly meager because overworked soil had lost its fertility
  
• 
  Farmland destroyed by warfare
  
• 
  Higher taxes imposed by government…many poor farmers abandoned their lands
  
• 
  Cheap slave labor had discouraged improvements in technology
  
• 
  Serious food shortages resulted
  
• 
  Disease spread, and the population declined
  

2. 
   Rome faces Military Upheaval
   

• 
  Throughout 3^rd century AD, Germanic tribes repeatedly overwhelmed the Roman legions guarding the northern frontiers
  
• 
  Persia threatened Roman territory in Syria and Anatolia
  
• 
  “Barbarians” term used by Romans to mean “non-Romans”
  
• 
  AD 260: Persians captured the Roman emperor Valerian
  
• 
  Discipline and loyalty collapsed in the army
  
• 
  Soldiers were more loyal to their commanders, rather than Rome itself
  
• 
  Commanders began fighting amongst themselves for the throne
  
• 
  Government relied on mercenaries, foreign soldiers who fought for money, and generally had less loyalty to the Empire
  

3. 
   Roman Politics Decay
   

• 
  Roman citizens seemed less willing to sacrifice their life for their empire or republic…losing sense of patriotism…seemed indifferent to the empire’s fate
  
• 
  Serving in government was once an honor, but by the 200’s, more of a liability, because officials had to pay for public circuses and baths out of own pocket…few people chose to serve in the government
  
• 
  Armies remained actively interested in politics
  
• 
  50 year period (235-284) armies in the provinces and Rome proclaimed 50 generals to be emperors of Rome
  
  • 
    “Barracks emperors”: 26 briefly won approval of Senate, and 25 died violently
    

2. 
   Emperors Attempt Reform
   

• 
  Empire continued on for another 200 years…mainly because of some reforms, and dividing the empire into eastern and western parts
  

1. 
   Diocletian Reforms the Empire
   

• 
  AD 284: Diocletian, an army leader, became emperor
  
• 
  Restored order in the empire, and increased its strength
  
• 
  Governed as an absolute ruler, and limited personal freedoms
  
• 
  Doubled the size of the Roman armies
  
  • 
    Including prisoners of war and German mercenaries
    
• 
  Attempted to control inflation by setting fixed prices for goods
  
• 
  Ordered farmers to stay on their land, and other workers to stay in their jobs for life
  
• 
  To restore prestige, Diocletian claimed descent from the ancient Roman gods
  
• 
  Diocletian viewed Christianity as a threat, and passed decrees to persecute the Christians
  
• 
  Diocletian believed the empire had grown too large and complex for one ruler
  
  • 
    Divided Empire into Greek-speaking East (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt) and the Latin-speaking West (Italy, Gaul, Britannia, and Spain)
    
  • 
    Diocletian ruled the eastern half and appointed a co-ruler for the west, General Maximian…each selected an assistant, who would be their successor
    
  • 
    The East was far wealthier than the west, with most of the empire’s great cities and trade centers
    
• 
  Diocletian’s reforms slowed the decline of the empire
  
• 
  Borders became safe again…emperor’s prestige was restored
  
• 
  Diocletian retired in AD 305 because of declining health
  
• 
  However, civil war broke out immediately
  
• 
  311, four rivals were competing for power…including Constantine
  

2. 
   Constantine Moves the Capital
   

• 
  Constantine gained control of the western part of the empire in AD 312…continued many of the policies of Diocletian
  
• 
  324: Constantine gained control of the east, and restored one ruler to the Roman Empire
  
• 
  AD 330: Constantine moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium (modern day Istanbul, Turkey)
  
  • 
    New capital on Bosporus Strait…crossroads between west and east
    
• 
  Center of power shifted from Rome to the East
  
• 
  New capital was protected with walls and filled with imperial buildings
  
• 
  New name of Constantinople (Nickname: 2^nd Rome)
  

3. 
   Invaders Overrun the Western Empire
   

• 
  Decline of the western Roman Empire took place over many years
  
• 
  Final collapse from worsening internal problems, separation of the Western Empire from wealthier Eastern part, and outside invasions
  
• 
  Germanic peoples on northern borders of empire
  
  • 
    Some became peaceful farmers
    
  • 
    Some adopted Roman ways, Latin, and Christianity
    
  • 
    Others remained nomads
    
• 
  AD 376 to 476, huge numbers of Germans poured into Roman territory: Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Alemanni, and Vandals
  
• 
  Gradually, overwhelmed the structures of Roman society and drove the last Roman emperor from the throne
  

1. 
   The Huns Move West
   

• 
  Main reason for the Germanic invasions of the Empire was the movement into Europe of the Huns
  
• 
  Huns were fierce Mongol nomads from central Asia
  
• 
  Invading frontier regions of Rhine and Danube around AD 370
  
• 
  Pressure from the Huns forced other groups to move as well into the Roman Empire
  

2. 
   Germanic Invasions
   

• 
  Germanic people near the Rhine River- Franks, Burgundians, and Vandals- fled the invading Huns and entered Roman lands
  
  • 
    Rhine River froze in 406 Vandal families swarmed over the ice
    
• 
  Western Empire was unable to field an army to stop the Germanic invasions
  
• 
  By early 5^th century: city of Rome was vulnerable to attack
  
• 
  408: Visigoths, led by Alaric, marched across the Alps toward Rome…put city under siege…410 hordes of Germans plundered the city of Rome for 3 days
  

3. 
   Attila the Hun
   

• 
  Huns then became a direct threat
  
• 
  444, Huns united for the first time under chieftain Attila
  
  • 
    100,000 soldiers, terrorized both parts of the empire
    
  • 
    East: plundered 70 cities (but couldn’t scale walls of Constantinople)
    
• 
  AD 452: Attila’s forces advanced against Rome…but weakened by famine and disease
  
• 
  Pope Leo I was able to negotiate their withdrawal…Attila died in 453
  
• 
  455 Vandals, under Gaiseric, sacked Rome…leaving it in chaos (vandalize)
  
• 
  Famine struck in Rome…population dropped from one million to 20,000
  

4. 
   Rome’s Last Emperor
   

• 
  Roman emperor in West had become practically powerless
  
• 
  Germanic tribes now fought for possession of the western provinces
  
  • 
    Spain to Visigoths
    
  • 
    North Africa to Vandals
    
  • 
    Gaul to Franks, Burgundians, and Visigoths
    
  • 
    Britannia to Angles and Saxons
    
  • 
    Italy to Ostrogoths
    
• 
  Last Roman emperor was 14 year old Romulus Augustulus…476 deposed by German general, Odoacer, and sent into exile
  
• 
  Roman power in western half of the Empire had disappeared
  
• 
  Eastern half of empire became known as Byzantine Empire…flourish for another 1,000 years
  
  • 
    Will fall in 1453 to Ottoman Turks
    
• 
  Key cultural influence of Rome