The Roman Empire experienced periods of stability and crisis over several centuries. In the 1st-2nd centuries AD, the Pax Romana brought peace and prosperity during the rule of emperors like Augustus and Trajan. However, the 3rd century saw a period of crisis as civil wars broke out among competing generals and Germanic tribes invaded. Diocletian and Constantine later restored stability in the 4th century. The Western Roman Empire eventually fell in 476 AD as Germanic tribes invaded and divided the territory into smaller kingdoms, while the Eastern Empire survived as the Byzantine Empire for another 1000 years.

1.  
2ND Graders ESO. Social Studies Department
Almudena Corrales Marbán

2. Almudena Corrales Marbán
In the 27 BC Augustus becomes the
first Roman emperor. The emperor commands
the army and he is the chief priest. There is still a
senate, but it is very week.
Augustus brings stability to Rome. The
first 200 years of Roman Empire are known as
the Pax Romana-the Roman peace. During this
period, the Empire is safe and prosperous. This is
when the Romans build the Coliseum in Rome and
many other great buildings like the Panteon.
The Roman Empire is at its biggest
under emperor Trajan.

3. Almudena Corrales Marbán

4. Almudena Corrales Marbán
In the 3rd century the Roman Empire has another crisis:
1. Lots of Roman generals want to be emperor, so there is a constant civil
war.
2. Germanic tribes attack Roman towns, and the Roman people escape to
the countryside.
3. It is dangerous to transport goods, so there is less trade. Prices therefore
go up, and people become much poorer.
Finally the civil war end, and the Romans defeat their enemies. The
emperors Diocletian (Diocleciano) and Constantine (Constantino) bring
stability and the 4th century is quite peaceful again.

5. Almudena Corrales Marbán
Germanic tribes lived to
the north of the Roman Empire. The
Romans called them barbarians
(foreigners). The empire’s wealth
and military weakness led to a
series of Germanis migrations
across the frontier. Some of these
were violent invasions.

6. Almudena Corrales Marbán
Roman control over its northen territories
gradually declined after the third century. In
395, Emperor Theodosius divided the
empire between his two sons to make it
easier to defend.
Actually, he divided the Roman Empire into
two parts: west and east.
The western ad eastern provinces became
the Western Roman Empire and the
Eastern Roman Empire.

7. Almudena Corrales Marbán
Germanic tribes invade the western part . Romulus
Augustus, the last Roman Emperor, surrenders in 476
AD.
The eastern part of the Roman Empire becomes the
Byzantine Empire, which survives for another 1. 000
years.
The centralized government of the Western Empired was
replaced by smaller kingdoms:
• The Franks, in France.
• The Visigoths, in Spain.
• The Ostrogoths, and later the Lombards, in Italy.

8. Almudena Corrales Marbán
It as dangerous to travel. Consequently, there was
very little long-distance trade, and many
industries disappeared. Cities declined, and
people moved to the countryside –origin of
feudalism-. !!!
Cultural activity also declined. Some examples of
Germanic art have surived, such as small
churches and attractive jewellery.
At first, the Romans and the Germanic tribes had
different laws, customs and religions. Then in
some places, the Germanic peoples spoke Latin
San Pedro de la Nave,
Zamora. 680-711
Tesoro de Guarrazar,
Museo Arqueológico
Nacional, Madrid. 7th
century.