The Long Decline

I. 

The Roman Empire Dividesa.  After death of Marcus Aurelius, golden age endsb.

 

Political Violence Become Commoni. 

Emperors overthrown by political intriguers or ambitiousgenerals with support of troops

1. 

Ruled for months until overthrown/killedii.  Political violence and instability had become the rule

c. 

Social and Economic Problems Arisei.  High taxes to support the army and bureaucracy placed heavy

burdens on business people and small farmers1.  Over-cultivated farms lost productivity

ii. 

Poor farmers leave land and seek protection from wealthylandowners

1. 

Serfs- not allowed to leave land, technically free w/ oneplot of land

d.  Emperor Diocletian Shares Poweri. 

EmperorDiocletian set out to restore order1.  Divided it into 2 parts2.

 

Wealthy E for himself, appointed empire Maximian forW

ii. 

Slows inflation by fixing prices of many goods and services1.  Laws forced farmers to remain on land2.

 

Cities-son had to follow father’s occupations a.  Ensured steady production of goods

e. 

Emperor Constantine Makes Further Reformsi. 

Granted toleration Christiansii.  New capital @ Byzantinium Constantinople

1. 

Made eastern empire center of powerf.  Improvements Prove Temporary

i.  Reforms revive economy,  government keeps empiretogethers

ii. 

Internal problems combine with attacks form outside to bring

the empire  II.  Invaders Threaten the Roman Empire

a. 

Faced many attacks from Germanic tribes beforei.  Held back

ii. 

Some became alliesb.  Migrating Nomads Attack

i. 

Wars in E Asia bring Huns 1.

 

Skilled riders2.  Dislodge Germanic peoples in path3.

 

Visigoths, Ostrogoths, & other Germanic people Rome for safety

 

ii. 

Rome surrenders Britain, France, Spain1.  Attackers overcome Rome itself

c. 

Rome is Sackedi.  Defeated when tried to turn back Visisgoths at Adrianople

1. 

Power  

ii.   Invaders, esp. in W

1.  The Germanic Vandals - Gaul and Spain N Africa

iii. 

Germanic groups occupy  of W Romeiv.  Attila the Hun across Europe

1.  Christians call “scourge of God” b/ punishment for sins

of humankind2.

 

Sends more Germanic tribes Romev.  Odoacer (Germanic) Rome and overcomes emperor

1. 

Fall of RomeIII.  Many Problems cause Rome to Fall

a. 

Military Attacksi.  Roman legions lacked discipline/training than earlier

ii. 

Hired mercenaries 1.

 

Felt little loyalty to Rome (many Germanic)b.  Political Turmoil

i.  Government oppressive and authoritarian,  support ofpeople

ii. 

 Corrupt officialsiii.

 

Civil wars for throneiv.

 

Division of empire when under attack damaged emperor1.

 

Rich E did little to help Wc.  Economic Weakness

i.   taxes to support the vast government bureaucracy and hugemilitary establishment

ii. 

Reliance on slave labor prevents need for new technology

iii. 

$  as farmers abandon land and middle classes  into poverty1.  Climate change maybe another factor for reduced

agriculture productivity

iv. 

Disease and war  populationd.

 

Social Decay

i.   Patriotism. discipline, & devotion to duty on which the

empire was built1.

 

Mercenariesii.  Upper class luxury and prestige instead of providing leaders

iii. 

Panem et cirencese.  Did Rome Fall?

i. 

Disappears from map at 4761.

 

E Rome Byzantine empire for another 1000 yearsii.  Long and slow change

1. 

New rulers, but similar way of life

 

a. 

Spoke Latin and obeyed Roman lawsiii.  Germanic customs and languages replaced much of Roman

cultures1.  Roman cities and roads disappear2.

 

Christian Church preserved elements of Romancivilization

a.  Roman and Christian religions in W medievalcivilzation