Chapter 6Section 5 Notes

Roman historian Marcellinus witnessed declining values and moral decay in Roman society

The end of Roman greatness did not occur overnight

Decay had set in centuries before the final fall

A complex combination of problems led to the decline and fall of the western Roman empire

Setting the Scene

The death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD ended the Pax Romana and for the next 100 years political and economic turmoil rocked the Roman empire

A disruptive political pattern emerged---a “revolving door” or rulers

In one 50 year period there were 26 different emperors

These emperors seized power and ruled for a few months or years until they themselves were overthrown or assassinated

Crisis and Reform-Power Struggles

Two major economic problems emerged--- High taxes to support the army and the

bureaucracy placed heavy burdens on business people and small farmers

Farmland that had been overcultivated for too many years lost its productivity

Crisis and Reform-Economic and Social Problems

To make the empire easier to govern, Diocletian divided it into two parts

He kept control of the wealthier eastern part for himself and appointed a co-emperor to rule the western provinces

Diocletian tried to increase the prestige of the empire by surrounding himself with elaborate ceremonies

To slow inflation, he fixed prices for goods and services

Other laws forced farmers to remain on their land and for sons to follow their fathers’ occupations

These rules were meant to ensure steady production of food and other goods

Emperor Diocletian

In 312 AD, Constantine gained the thrown and as emperor he continued Diocletian’s reforms

He took two steps that changed the course of European history---

He granted toleration to Christians and encouraged the rapid growth of Christianity with the empire and guaranteed its future success

He built a new capital, Constantinople, on the Bosporus thereby making the eastern portion of the empire the center of power and ensured the survival of the eastern portion for centuries to come

Emperor Constantine

The reforms of Diocletian and Constantine had mixed results

They revived the economy By increasing the power of the government,

they helped hold the empire together for another century

Still, the reforms failed to stop the long-term decline

In the end, internal problems combined with attacks from outside to bring the empire down

Mixed Results

The Huns drive into eastern Europe led the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and other Germanic peoples crossing into Roman territory seeking safety

The weakened Roman legions were hard-pressed to stop the invasion from these people

Foreign Invasions

In 378 AD, the Roman army was defeated by the Visigoths at Adrianople

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

Attila the Hun led forces that destroyed Rome

Attila’s nickname was the “Scourge of God” Finally in 476 AD, Odoacer, a Germanic

leader, ousted the emperor in Rome Later, historians referred to that event as

the “fall” of Rome

Foreign Invasions

Modern historians have identified several causes for the fall of the Roman empire

Military causes Political causes Economic causes Social causes

Causes of the Fall of Rome

Roman legions of the late empire were weakened because they lacked the discipline and training of past Roman armies

Rome resorted to hiring mercenaries (foreign soldiers serving for pay) to defend its borders and these mercenaries felt little loyalty to Rome

Germanic invasions

Military Causes

As the government became more oppressive and authoritarian, it lost the support of the people

Growing number of corrupt officials Frequent civil wars over succession to the

imperial throne Division of empire into two parts

Political Causes

Heavier and heavier taxes were required to support the vast government bureaucracy and huge military establishment

Reliance on slave labor discouraged exploring new technologies

Population decline due to war and epidemic diseases

Economic Causes

Decline in values such as patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty

Upper class devoting themselves to luxury and self-interest rather than leadership

“Bread and circuses” were costly and undermined the self-reliance of the masses

Social Causes