The document discusses the gradual decline and fall of the Roman Empire, emphasizing factors such as economic burdens, division of the empire, moral decay, and external threats from invaders. The western half of the empire ultimately fell, but the eastern half continued as the Byzantine Empire, centered in Constantinople, which preserved Roman and Greek culture. The reign of Emperor Justinian is highlighted for its legal reforms and support of Christianity, but the Byzantine Empire eventually diminished and fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

1. 3:13- Fall of Rome intro video

2. If you were there….
 You were a former Roman soldier who has settled
on lands in Gaul. In the last few months, groups
of foreigners have been raiding local towns and
burning farms. The commander of the local army
post is an old friend, but he says he is short of
loyal soldiers. Many troops have been called back
to Rome. You don’t know when the next raid will
come.
 How will you defend your lands?

3. Falling at the speed of a turtle
 Rome’s decline was gradual and took
several centuries to fall.

4. Factor #1: Economic Costs
Maintaining a military
presence / protection of
land and trade
Resulted in continuously
higher taxes
Taxes resulted in dissatisfied
population
People lost their lands &
moved to cities
Resulted in more taxes
increases to cover the
Increased economic
burden on city
government to take care
of them
burden

5. Factor #2: Division of the Empire
 The Empire grew too big to control under one ruler.
 Emperor Diocletian divided the Empire, ruling the
eastern half and allowing a co-ruler to rule the
western half.
 Civil wars resulted in
both sides of the empire

6. Division of the Empire
 When Diocletian left power,
Emperor Constantine
reunited the empire for a
short time.
 He moved the capital to the
east to modern day Turkey
(remember Catal Hyuk),
naming it Constantinople
 Even with the city moved
from Rome, it was still
called the Roman Empire

7. Factor #3: Wealth Led to
Decline in Traditional Values
 As Rome grew richer and
larger, the people’s
morals decayed and their
was corruption among
the citizens that cause
the empire to weaken
from within.

9. Factor #4: External Threats
 Continuous attacks from various groups such as
the Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Huns, and Visigoths
weakened the empire and led to the invasion of
portions of the empire.

10. Read Textbook Page 341
Video 2:23- Factors -Fall of Rome

11. Note Quick Check
1. How did the Romans deal with Goth
invaders?
2. What sequences of events led to the
sack of Rome in 410 AD?
3. What factors weakened the Roman
government?

12. After the Western Invasion
 Only the Western side of the Roman Empire fell to
the German invaders
 The Eastern side continued on for another 1,000
years
 The center of of the Byzantine Empire was the city
of Constantinople (Eastern Roman Empire),
originally called Byzantium by the Greeks
 Known today as Istanbul

13. The Byzantine Empire
 Became the greatest city in the western world after
the fall of Rome.
 Constantinople straddled the Bosporus Strait and
was situated on two continents, Europe & Asia.
 Its location was chosen because it was easy to
defend there & served as the crossroads of
international trade
 Constantinople became the cultural center-preserving
and spreading the accomplishments of
both Greece & Rome throughout the world

15. Byzantine Empire
Improvements
 They supported the
education of scholars
(teachers) &
government officials to
better serve the people
 Artists enhanced the
Roman style of using
marble for mosaics with
brightly colored glass

16. Byzantine Emperor Justinian
 Justinian improved these
traditions in government &
law
 He simplified the complex
Roman legal system to
make it easier for common
people to understand
 He order the removal of all
non-Christian or out-of-date
laws
 This codification is known
as the Justinian Code

17. Christianity in the Byzantine Empire
 Justinian supported the Christian religion
 Not only did he change the laws (Justinian Code) He
removed pagan temples and statues as well
 Christian churches were built and decorated
throughout the empire, including the Hagia Sophia

18. Hagia Sophia- Church of the
Beautiful Wisdom

19. The End of the Byzantines
 After Justinian's death, the eastern empire
continued to decline
 Invaders first took over all the land Justinian
had gained and the rest of the empire
continued to shrink
 By 1453 the Ottoman-Turks captured
Constantinople, bringing an end to the
Eastern Roan Empire