The Decline (or Fall) of RomeThe Decline (or Fall) of Rome

Ω After the 5 Good Emperors, Rome had 64 (depending upon your count) different emperors between 180 & 284 CEΩ Half of these were not even Roman, let alone Italian. Most died of unnatural causesΩ Rome’s 3 most prosperous sources dried up in the 3rd century (Gold & silver, trade, and grain) due to pirates, barbarians, & lack of new conquests

Ω Taxes were raised. Coins were minted using less and less precious metals. Farmlands were overused and under producing

Ω Cheap labor did not encourage innovation in agriculture.

Ω The economy suffered inflation, a drastic drop in the value of money along with a rise in prices

Ω To protect Rome’s 10,000 mile border they came to depend upon barbarians and local tribesmen. They normally cost more than the typical Roman soldier and were not as loyalΩ But without them Rome may have fallen 200 or more years earlier.Ω During the Republic Romans would die for their country, but afterwards citizens didn’t really care one way or another.

Ω Politicians had to spend more and more on games and giveaways that it was no longer a job you would make money at, but it would cost you out of pocket to be a politician.

Ω Rome’s borders were being attacked more frequently so they hired mercenaries, foreign soldiers who fought for money. They didn’t have much loyalty towards Rome.

Ω In 284 CE, Diocletian became emperor.Ω Realizing they needed drastic measures he ruled as an absolute ruler and reduced personal freedom. ΩTo manage inflation he fixed prices for goods.ΩHe made workers and other laborers and skilled craftsmen to stay at their jobs for life.

To reclaim pride & prestige in the

emperor he claimed descent from the ancient Roman Gods. He was now to be called Lord &

Master and to visit him you had to

prostrate yourself in front of him.

He doubled the size of the army and hired German He doubled the size of the army and hired German mercenaries.mercenaries.

He saw Christianity as a threat and

passed decrees to persecute Christians.

Ω Diocletian built his palace, seen above, in YugoslaviaΩ Realizing the empire was too big for one to govern, he split the empire into two parts, East & West (He took the Eastern half which was much richer than the West) Ω Although his stop-gap measures slowed the decline, it didn’t solve their problems. In 305 he actually retired and a Civil War followedΩThe winner would be Constantine – the final battle at the Milvian Bridge.

Ω Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium and renamed it ConstantinopleΩ He went on a building spree which included the Hippodrome, used for Chariot and horse racing Ω After his death in 337 the empire was again split in two.

Ω The Germanic tribes began to be pushed by Mongolian nomadic The Germanic tribes began to be pushed by Mongolian nomadic group named the group named the Huns Huns who arrived around 370.who arrived around 370.Ω The were so many people in the many tribes that the Romans were The were so many people in the many tribes that the Romans were powerless to stop them powerless to stop them Ω The tribes now began to realize that the Romans were all that The tribes now began to realize that the Romans were all that tough within their own empire and began to attacktough within their own empire and began to attack

ΩOne tribe, Visigoths led by Alaric, sacked Rome One tribe, Visigoths led by Alaric, sacked Rome for the 1for the 1stst time since 390 BCE. Rome survived, time since 390 BCE. Rome survived, weakened. Alaric died of malaria (?) a few monthsweakened. Alaric died of malaria (?) a few months

ΩWhen the Huns, led by Attila failed to get over When the Huns, led by Attila failed to get over Constantinople's walls) they headed towards Italy. Pope Leo I Constantinople's walls) they headed towards Italy. Pope Leo I met them and spoke to Attila alone. The Huns turned around met them and spoke to Attila alone. The Huns turned around and left – Leo Pulled off a miracle against and left – Leo Pulled off a miracle against The Scourge of GodThe Scourge of God ΩDisease affected the Huns and the Romans. Rome’s Disease affected the Huns and the Romans. Rome’s population fell to 20,000 from a high of a million.population fell to 20,000 from a high of a million.

Ω The western Roman The western Roman empire was an empire empire was an empire in name only – they in name only – they were powerless to were powerless to stop anything or stop anything or anybody.anybody.Ω Different tribes Different tribes controlled what use to controlled what use to be the Western Empire be the Western Empire Ω Finally the king of Finally the king of the Ostrogoths, the Ostrogoths, Odoacer, disposed the Odoacer, disposed the last Roman emperor, last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, Romulus Augustulus, who was only 14. who was only 14.

He pitied the young He pitied the young boy and let him live, boy and let him live, even giving him an even giving him an allowance for life.allowance for life.

The Eastern capital, Constantinople and its The Eastern capital, Constantinople and its territory would survive in different forms until territory would survive in different forms until

1453 when the Ottoman Turks would finally 1453 when the Ottoman Turks would finally capture, and keep it.capture, and keep it.

Centurion

The tortoise formation

You can still see the road

Another view of

the Forum

A view of Julius Caesar’s tomb

Tomb of Augustus Caesar

Best preserved Roman bridge, Rome across Tiber River

beforebefore

The Forum - after

Imperial Palace & Hippodrome beforeImperial Palace & Hippodrome before

after

A model of The Colosseum how it would have looked

The Colosseum today

The Colosseum