Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima

Culpa!The Fall Of Rome

The Plague

What does the flea have to do with it?

Unemployment

What does unemployment mean?

Can you give me an

an example of

unemployment we

discussed in class?

Greed

All the Romans were greedy, who was especially greedy?

Praetorian Guard?

Senators?

Emperors?

Empire Is Too Big

Why is the Empire being too large a problem?

Earthquakes

We haven’t talked about this yet, but it is a great example of when it rains, it pours!

Who do they blame

for the earthquakes?

End Of Education

This is a big deal! There is no more tax money to fund schools and libraries.

Teachers are dying of the plague!

End Of Education

Families need their children to go to work instead of going to school!

Schools and Libraries are being destroyed in civil wars and barbarian invasions.

IF, today was the last day of school for you, what would happen?

Army Disappearing

The Roman Army used to be large, organized and very effective.

Army Disappearing

There is no longer enough tax revenue to pay the soldiers.

There is no place left to conquer.

Frustrated Romans lost their (patriotism) desire to defend the Empire.

Soldiers were left in small numbers to defend the vast borders of the Empire.

Army Disappearing

Soldiers were now recruited from the thousands of unemployed citizens

This made the army unreliable and ineffective.

Christians & Jews VS Polytheistic Romans

Why is this a problem?

Do people today hurt

others because they have

different religious beliefs?

No Police/ Fire Force

Which Emperor established a Police & Fire Force?

Rome Could no longer afford this.

Beginning of Feudalism

Beginning of Feudalism

Initially it starts with the rich land owner who pays the debts of the poor in exchange for them farming his land forever.

The unemployed Roman soldier become the Manor’s protector in exchange for some land from the rich land owner.

See diagram

Beginning Of Feudalism

Barbarian Kings conquer the vast Roman Empire, and there is too much land for the King to govern alone. He makes his underlings LORDS and grants them land, called MANORS.

The poor people farming the land become SERFS.

Unemployed Soldiers offer protection to the Lords in exchange of land, these men are called KNIGHTS.

No Republic

Government has completely dissolved. There is no Emperor or Senate.

A Republic would have been a much more effective government for such a large empire.

Civil War

This has been going on the entire unit.

Senator vs. Senator/ General vs. General/ Manor vs. Manor/ Religion vs. Religion.

Dying Economy

The Empire no longer had enough silver to produce more coins. They were cutting their coins down with cheap metal, and so it became worthless.

Dying Economy

The new economy was based on Feudalism.

Lord gave food, shelter, and protection in exchange the Serfs farmed the land and produced food for the Manor.

The Knight gave the Manor protection in exchange for a little piece of land and food.

No Law of Succession

What does this mean?

Who takes over next?

During the republic the

Senate would choose a new

Consul, then Augustus changed that. How

did he want a new leader chosen?

Praetorian Guard

What is the problem with the Praetorian Guard?

Invaders

Attila the Hun is the

most famous of the

invaders. Why are the

Huns historically

significant?

Invaders

This was a fragile time for the Empire, there were many problems within that made it weak.

The constant invasion and attacks from the Goths, Franks, Persians, Huns, and Vandals was a problem the Empire could not withstand.

High Taxes

Who caused high taxes?

What should taxes have

paid for? What did they

pay for?

Horrible Morals

What do I mean by that?

Horrible Morals

An individual with good morals knows the difference between wrong and right, and always does the right thing.

Gladiator games is an example of horrible morals. (Passion for cruelty)

Crimes and violence made the streets of the Empire’s larger cities very unsafe.

Horrible Morals

Nero & Caligula are leaders, their main job is to protect and serve the people. However they (and other Emperors) wasted money on entertainment and monuments to themselves. They threw money away on lavish parties where guests ate and drank so much they made themselves sick, while people starved in the streets.

Corruption

Leaders abused their positions of power and neglected the people they were supposed to protect.

Can you think of examples?

The Fall of Rome

The official dates historians give to mark the fall of Rome: 476 CE

This begins the period of time referred to as: The Dark Ages (Medieval Period/Middle Ages)