Fall of the Roman Empire

Problems in the Empire

• During AD 200’s, empire faced confusion
and civil war and a decreasing population
• Between AD 235 and 284, there were 20
emperors!!
• Barbarian invasions changed way of life
for the Romans
– Travel was unsafe
– Merchants hesitated to send goods via land or
sea
 Problems in the Empire
• In 212 AD, everyone was granted
citizenship in order to collect more taxes.
• Taxes rose, but the value of money
declined the money could not buy as
much as it used to
– Inflation: rise in prices caused by a decrease
in the value of the medium of exchange
 Problems in the Empire
• Poor farmers had to sell land
• Food was scarce in the cities, so many
farmers tried to move to the country
• To prevent a mass exodus, the
government instituted the trade workers’
association called Collegia
– Membership was mandatory and hereditary
– Prevented artisans from leaving their jobs
 Diocletian
• Appointed a co-emperor to assist in
administration of empire
• Transformed life into a strict, bureaucratic
order
• Almost all aspects of life were under
government control
• Individual freedom became secondary to
the defense and security of the empire
 Constantine
• Christianity became a recognized religion
during his reign
• Created new capital city of Constantinople
(today’s Istanbul)
 The Split
• Theodosius was last emperor to rule
unified Rome
• When his sons came to power, one ruled
from Rome, one from Constantinople
– There were now two empires
– Western empire continued to grow weak as
power moved to the East
 The Visigoths
• The Visigoths, a German people, revolted
against harsh Roman rule in the late 300’s
AD
• By 410 AD, they sacked Rome
 Invasions from the West
• The Vandals constantly attacked Rome
and destroyed everything in their way
• The Huns attacked Gaul but were turned
away by an army of Romans and Visigoths
 Results of Rome’s Decline
• Germans established tribal kingdoms, but
were in capable of ruling an empire
– Immediate result: Anarchy
• Learning declined
• Libraries destroyed
• Ignorance and superstition grew
 But Why?
• They had arts, literature, politics,
philosophy, a mighty army…. how could a
mighty empire fail so completely?
• What led up to the eventual destruction?
• Political weakness?
– Tried to govern a large territory of land…
– Near the end, leaders were often corrupt
and/or mad
• Economic decline?
– High taxes levied against citizens
– Decreased trade
• Social change?
– Decline of morals and virtues
– Loss of patriotism
• Plumbing?
– Used lead-based pipes for transportation of
water to houses with indoor plumbing
“While stands the Coliseum, Rome Shall
stand
When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall;
And when Rome falls– the world.”
-Lord Byron