a fc.34 decline & near collapse of the roman empire (i60-284 c.e.)

AFC.34 DECLINE & NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (I60-284 C.E.)


Conquest after Augustus?

(FC.32)

AFC.34 DECLINE & NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (I60-284 C.E.)Few conquests after Augustus

Few new sources of

money (FC.32)

Trade with East?


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)

Growing luxury trade w/East Huge drain of $

from empire(FC.32)

Rome’s neighbors?(FC.32)


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)


from empire(FC.32)

Growing threats from Ger. tribes to N. &

Sassanid Persians to East Emp. needs

bigger army(FC.32)

FC.34A THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE GERMANIC THREAT (c.100-300 C.E.)

Roman Empire’s frontiers border Germanic tribes in North (FC.33)

Continuous attacks on Germanic tribes to keep Roman army busy & win

emperors glory

Incentive for Germanic tribes to unite in bigger

confederations



Trade with richer Roman civ. cultural, military &

political imitation of Rome


emperors glory


confederations

Germanic tribes learn to unite in bigger

confederations vs. Rome






emperors glory

Romans subsidize some tribes & turn them

against others to keep them weak


confederations


confederations vs. Rome Romans in effect give some Ger. leaders wealth to gain followers & power






emperors glory

Romans subsidize some tribes & turn them

against others to keep them weak

Keep their warriors busy

Gain wealth Reward their warriors & attract new ones to their standards

Preempt Roman attacks

Encouraged Germanic leaders to attack Rome in order to:


confederations


confederations vs. Rome Romans in effect give some Ger. leaders wealth to gain followers & power

Germanic tribes bordering Rome coalesce into three main peoples:

Franks, Alemanni, & Goths

Germanic confederations start to attack Rome’s N. frontiers in 160s (FC.34)


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)Army returning

from East brings epidemic…


from empire(FC.32)



bigger army(FC.32)


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)

Army returning from East brings

epidemic Lower population & tax

base


from empire(FC.32)



bigger army(FC.32)


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



bigger army(FC.32)

Incapable &/or corrupt rulers after

180 C.E. Huge bonuses to keep

army happy

Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus (180-192), liked to pose as Heracles wearing a lion skin and carrying a club. He preferred taking part in chariot racing and gladiatorial matches to the serious business of government. Fittingly, after a reign of terror, he was murdered by a wrestler.

Pertinax (1/1/193-3/28/193) a capable emperor whose strict discipline and economizing measures quickly got him murdered by the Praetorian Guard only 87 days after ascending the throne

Didius Julianus (3/28-6/1/193) a Roman millionaire to whom the Praetorian Guard auctioned off the imperial throne. His authority barely extended outside of Italy and, abandoned even by the Praetorian guard that had put him on the throne, he was murdered after a reign of 66 days in favor of a military revolt led by Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus (193-211) a capable emperor, but one whose annexation of the troubled lands in Mesopotamia and increasing militarization of the Empire through doubling the troops’ pay would help lead to the anarchy of the 3rd century. Although a capable ruler who brought peace to the empire, his reputation was somewhat tarnished by the bloody methods he used to gain and maintain control of the throne. His dying words to his sons were supposedly “Enrich the troops. Nothing else matters.”


Empire desperately needs what?

Few conquests after Augustus

Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)


Inflation wrecks the economy

Soldiers demand more money

Empire needs more money

One way to raise money supply?

Soldiers get mad & declare their own generals emperor

Abandon frontiers to put gen’ls on throne

Germanic tribes & revived Persian Empire attack weakened frontiers

Disease, revolts & wars wreck econ.

New diseases spread by army

Empire desperately needs money


Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)





Emperors raise taxes & debase coinage








Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)


Impact of debasement?











Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)



Soldiers’ reaction?










Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)






Another reaction by soldiers?







Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)










Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)








Meanwhile Ger. Tribes?





Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)









Impact on Econ?New diseases

spread by army



Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)













Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_emperors


What saved it?

Near collapse of the Roman Empire by 260 C.E.












Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)


Series of strong military emperors who gradually restore empire (260-284)

Emperor Diocletian makes major reforms to revive the exhausted empire (F.C. 35)

Near collapse of the Roman Empire by 260 C.E.












Few new sources of

money (FC.32)



base


from empire(FC.32)



army happy



bigger army(FC.32)

a fc.34 decline & near collapse of the roman empire (i60-284 c.e.)

Documents

empire fc

north fc

germanic threat

germanic leaders

roman attacks

goths germanic confederations

roman empire i60

needs bigger army fc