The Long Decline I. The Roman Empire Divides a. After death of Marcus Aurelius, golden age ends b.

Political Violence Become Common i. Emperors overthrown by political intriguers or ambitious generals with support of troops 1. Ruled for months until overthrown/killed ii. Political violence and instability had become the rule c. Social and Economic Problems Arise i. High taxes to support the army and bureaucracy placed heavy burdens on business people and small farmers 1. Over-cultivated farms lost productivity ii. Poor farmers leave land and seek protection from wealthy landowners 1. Serfs- not allowed to leave land, technically free w/ one plot of land d. Emperor Diocletian Shares Power i. Emperor Diocletian set out to restore order 1. Divided it into 2 parts 2. Wealthy E for himself, appointed empire Maximian for W ii. Slows inflation by fixing prices of many goods and services 1. Laws forced farmers to remain on land 2. Cities-son had to follow fathers occupations a. Ensured steady production of goods e. Emperor Constantine Makes Further Reforms i. Granted toleration Christians ii. New capital @ Byzantinium Constantinople 1. Made eastern empire center of power f. Improvements Prove Temporary i. Reforms revive economy, government keeps empire togethers ii. Internal problems combine with attacks form outside to bring the empire Invaders Threaten the Roman Empire a. Faced many attacks from Germanic tribes before i. Held back ii. Some became allies b. Migrating Nomads Attack i. Wars in E Asia bring Huns 1. Skilled riders 2. Dislodge Germanic peoples in path 3. Visigoths, Ostrogoths, & other Germanic people Rome for safety

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ii. Rome surrenders Britain, France, Spain 1. Attackers overcome Rome itself c. Rome is Sacked i. Defeated when tried to turn back Visisgoths at Adrianople 1. Power ii. Invaders, esp. in W 1. The Germanic Vandals - Gaul and Spain N Africa iii. Germanic groups occupy of W Rome iv. Attila the Hun across Europe 1. Christians call scourge of God b/ punishment for sins of humankind 2. Sends more Germanic tribes Rome v. Odoacer (Germanic) Rome and overcomes emperor 1. Fall of Rome Many Problems cause Rome to Fall a. Military Attacks i. Roman legions lacked discipline/training than earlier ii. Hired mercenaries 1. Felt little loyalty to Rome (many Germanic) b. Political Turmoil i. Government oppressive and authoritarian, support of people ii. Corrupt officials iii. Civil wars for throne iv. Division of empire when under attack damaged emperor 1. Rich E did little to help W c. Economic Weakness i. taxes to support the vast government bureaucracy and huge military establishment ii. Reliance on slave labor prevents need for new technology iii. $ as farmers abandon land and middle classes into poverty 1. Climate change maybe another factor for reduced agriculture productivity iv. Disease and war population d. Social Decay i. Patriotism. discipline, & devotion to duty on which the empire was built 1. Mercenaries ii. Upper class luxury and prestige instead of providing leaders iii. Panem et cirences e. Did Rome Fall? i. Disappears from map at 476 1. E Rome Byzantine empire for another 1000 years ii. Long and slow change 1. New rulers, but similar way of life

a. Spoke Latin and obeyed Roman laws iii. Germanic customs and languages replaced much of Roman cultures 1. Roman cities and roads disappear 2. Christian Church preserved elements of Roman civilization a. Roman and Christian religions in W medieval civilzation