The decline of the Roman Empire began after the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century AD. The empire faced economic troubles as trade and agriculture declined, taxes increased, and inflation rose. The military also became less disciplined and loyal to Rome. Several emperors attempted reforms to address these issues, such as Diocletian who divided the empire in half and established the Tetrarchy system of rule, and Constantine who moved the capital to Constantinople. However, invasions by Germanic tribes and the Huns in the 5th century led to the sacking of Rome in 410 and the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476.

1. The Fall of the Roman
Empire
Chapter 6, Section 4

2. A Century in Crisis
 End of Marcus Aurelius’ reign as emperor
(A.D. 161-180) brought about end of Pax
Romana. Ruler’s after Marcus Aurelius had
no idea how to deal with the giant empire
and its problems.

3. Rome’s Economy Weakens
 Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt trade.
Empire at limit of expansion and lacks new
sources of gold and silver.
– empire raised taxes as a result
– empire minted coins with less silver
inflation resulted

4. Rome’s Economy Weakens
 Agriculture faced serious problems
– Harvests were increasingly meager because
soil lost fertility.
– Years of war destroyed farmland.
Serious food shortages, disease, and
population decline resulted.

5. Military and Political Turmoil
 Roman military in disarray
– less disciplined soldiers
– allegiance to commanders, not to Rome itself
– recruiting of mercenaries who were less loyal to
Rome
 Less loyalty among average citizens
– Earlier Romans cared more about the Republic.
 Later Romans lose their sense of patriotism.

6. Emperors Attempt Reform
 Diocletian Reforms the Empire
– Becomes emperor in 284.
– Severely limits personal freedoms.
– Doubles size of Roman army.
– Controls inflation by price fixing.
– Divides the empire
 Greek speaking East (takes for himself)
 Latin-speaking West (appoints a co-ruler)
– Kept overall control.
– Retired in A.D. 305, but civil war broke out.
– Four rivals competed for control, including the
commander Constantine

7. Emperors Attempt Reform
 Constantine Moves the Capital
– A.D. 312 Constantine gains control of the
western part of the empire.
– A.D. 324 he secures the eastern empire and
the system of a single ruler.
– A.D. 330 Constantine moves the capital from
Rome to Byzantium on the Bosporus Strait
between Europe and Asia.
– The center of power shifts from Rome to the
east.

8. The Western Empire Crumbles
– Germanic Invasions
 A.D. 370 the Huns move into Europe causing the
Germanic peoples to flee into Roman territory.
 A.D. 410 Germans invade and overrun Rome itself
and plunder it for three days.
Attila the Hun
 In 444 the Huns unite under Attila and terrorize
both halves of the empire.
 In 452 the Huns advance against Rome, but fail in
conquering the city due to famine and disease.
 Attila dies in 453.

9. The Western Empire Crumbles
– An Empire No More
 14-year-old emperor Romulus Augustulus ousted
by German by German forces in 426.
 Roman power in the western half of the empire
ceases to exist.
 The eastern half of the empire comes to be called
the Byzantine Empire, and flourishes for 1,000
years.
 The Byzantine emperors ruled from
Constantinople.
 The Byzantine emperors saw themselves as heirs
to the power of Augustus Caesar.