Essential Questions: What factors led to the final decline of the Roman Empire in the West?
I. The Roman Empire Divides
A. In 324 A.D. Emperor Constantine moved the capitol from Rome to Byzantium,
renaming it Constantinople
II. Over a 300 year period, the Western Roman Empire steadily declined
A. Economic Decline
1. Rising Inflation
a. The shortage of silver in coins prompted merchants to raise prices
-This decrease in the value of money is called inflation
2. High taxes
a. Defense of the Roman Empire was costly
-This crushed the people financially
3. Manufacturing and Agriculture also declined
B. Military Weakness
1. Ambitious generals often seized control, assassinated the emperor, and
took the throne
a. the soldiers lost their loyalty to Rome
-They were loyal to the leaders who paid them more
b. Some Roman leaders recruited German troops
-This resulted in a dependence on German troops for defense
C. Moral Decay
1. Roman wealth was in the hands of a few
a. As the Empire grew, the number of poor citizens increase
-This division contributed to the moral decay
2. Most early Romans were hardworking, honest and patriotic
a.Romans of the later empire lost their patriotism
-Most took very little interest in the government and lacked
political honesty
D. Political Weakness
1. Rome tried to control a large empire with a government designed for a
city-state
a. Competition for power,, oppressive public service, corrupt courts
and civil wars added to the problems
E. Invasions
1. By the late 300's A.D., large numbers of German invaders
(Goths, Visigoths, and Vandels) invaded the empire
a. The invaders quickly crushed the Roman army
2. By the mid 400's A.D. the Huns (nomads from Asia) launched an attack on
Gaul (France)
a. The Huns were eventually defeated but the fighting had taken its
toll on Rome
III. In 476 A.D., the last Roman emperor in the west fell
A. The Eastern Empire became the Byzantine Empire which flourished for another
1000 years