Transcript
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIREContributing factors
POLITICAL
Political office seen as burden, not reward
Military interference in politics
Civil war and unrest
Division of empire
Moving of capital to Byzantium
SOCIAL
Decline in interest in public affairs
Low confidence in empire
Disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption
Contrast between rich and poor
ECONOMIC Poor harvests
Disruption of trade
No more war plunder
Gold and silver drain
Inflation (drastic drop in the value of money coupled with a rise in prices)
Crushing tax burden
Widening gap between rich and poor, increasingly impoverished Western empire
MILITARY
Threat from northern European tribes
Low funds for defense
Problems recruiting Roman citizens; recruiting of non-Romans
Decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers
DIOCLETIAN
Restored order in the empire and increased its strength
He governed as an absolute ruler Doubled the size of the Roman
armies.
Drafting of prisoners of war and hiring German mercenaries.
Controlled inflation by setting fixed prices on certain goods.
Ordered farmers to remain on their lands and ordered workers to stay in their jobs for life.
Viewed Christianity as a threat and passed decrees to persecute the Christians.
DIVISION OF ROME
ROME
Between the two, which one included most of the empire’s wealth?
LATIN SPEAKINGWEST
GREEK SPEAKINGEAST
MAXIMIAN DIOCLETIAN
CONSTANTINE Diocletian retired in 305
AD and was succeeded by a young ambitious commander named Constantine.
Constantine Restored the concept of a
single ruler Ended the persecution of
the Christians Moved the Roman capital
from Rome to Byzantium and the city was given a new name.
WHAT WAS THAT NAME?
CONSTANTINOPLE
Pressure from Huns, Invasion by Germanic tribes and by the Huns, Sack of Rome, and Conquest by Invaders were the immediate causes of the Roman Fall.
Last Emperor of Rome A 14 year old named
Romulus Augustulus. He was deposed by the
German general Odoacer and sent into exile.
He practically had no powers. Spain (Visigoths) North Africa (Vandals) Gaul (Franks, Burgundians,
Visigoths) Britannia (Angles, Saxons) Italy (Ostrogoths)
START OF THE MIDDLE AGES
Eastern Half of the (fallen) Roman Empire would be known as the Byzantine until 1453 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks.
Middle Ages or medieval period Spanned 500-1500 The early part of the Middle Ages...
Money was scarce Cities were abandoned as centers of administration
ASSIGNMENT
What is a monastery? What does the word “secular” mean? Identify the Carolingian Dynasty. Who was Charlemagne? Why was he
important?
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