* For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world. Rome continued.

*The Fall of Rome

*The Fall of Rome

* For centuries after the rule of its first emperor, begun in 27 B.C., the Roman Empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world. Rome continued to expand to include 3 continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.*

Roman Empire Expansion

*Many factors cause the decline of Rome

** By the second century, the Roman Empire seemed indestructible. Yet, by the end of the fifth century it had collapsed. Rome did not fall instantly.* Instead the empire went through a long * slow decline. Many conditions caused the fall of Rome including internal (inside) and external (outside) forces.

*The Fall of Rome

* Internal Forces

*3 Main Categories:

- Political

- Economic

- Social

*External Forces

*- Invaders, also called barbarians

*

Internal Forces

*Political • Corruption in

government

• Plebeians had no rights

• Empire too large to control

• Emperors plotted against each other for control instead of uniting

• Civil wars

• Government lost loyalty as patricians moved to villas and stopped caring about government

• Army deteriorates

*Economic

• Slavery

• Unemployment

• Welfare system

• Taxation

• Forced labor

• Decrease in trade

Spread of Christianity

*External Forces

* Invaders, also called barbarians, began to invade in the 3rd century. Germanic tribes from northern Europe crossed the Roman frontier and invaded Greece, Italy, Spain, and coastal areas of Asia Minor. The warmer climate, rich farmlands, and wealth of the Roman lands attracted the Germanic tribes. By the 5th century, the Roman Empire was overrun by barbarians.

*

Barbarian Invaders Map

*Important People

Diocletian Attila the Hun

Odoacer Constantine

Diocletian

Attila the Hun

Constantine

*The Fall of Rome* Once the Roman army could no longer defend its

borders, Germanic tribes began pouring into Europe. One Roman province fell after another. In 476 A.D., the Western Roman emperor was overthrown. Odoacer was then proclaimed king of Italy. The ancient world was drawing to a close.

THE END

*Works Cited*Slide 3-

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/interactive/map26.html

*Slide 4 map of roman empire atlas book

*Slide 8- www.romanempire.net/graphics/senate.gif

*Slide 9- http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/economy/economy.htm

*Slide 10- www.roman-empire.net/graphics/gladiator.gif

*Slide 11- http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/interactive/map31.html

*Slide 12- www.roman-empire.net/graphics/small-cannae.gif

*Slide 14- http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/interactive/map21.html

*Slide16- http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6946/images/diocletian3.jpg

*Slide 17- http://www.doser.org/his9/ancient_rome_pics/4.jpg-

*Slide 18- odoacer

*Slide 19-

*http://encarta.msn.com/find/MediaMax.asp?pg=3&ti=00566000&idx=461515441

*attila 3 of them

*Slide 20- http://www.roman-emperors.org/constai.jpg