1) The Roman Empire weakened over the 3rd and 4th centuries due to weak emperors, civil wars, a struggling economy, and constant threats of invasion. Diocletian and Constantine attempted reforms, including dividing the empire administratively and establishing a new capital in Constantinople, but they could not solve the fundamental problems. 2) In the late 4th century, invasions by the Huns drove Germanic tribes like the Visigoths and Vandals into the Roman Empire. They sacked Rome itself in 410. Although Attila the Hun was turned back from Italy, the western empire continued to lose control of its provinces. 3) By the 5th century,

1. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
The Fall of Rome
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• The Empire Weakens
• Attempts at Reform
• Invasion and Fall
• Map: Division and Invasion of the Roman Empire
• Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of the Fall of Rome
• Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
• Video: The Impact of Ancient Rome on the World Today

2. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
The Fall of Rome
Main Idea
1. Events and conditions inside as well as outside the Roman
Empire weakened it and led to its collapse in the west in the
400s.
Reading Focus
• What problems weakened the empire in the 200s?
• How did Diocletian and Constantine attempt to reform the
empire?
• What caused the invasion and ultimate fall of the empire in the
400s?

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The Empire Weakens
The Roman army’s inability to stop the Huns was one symptom of the
weakness that befell the empire after the end of the Pax Romana.
Weak Leaders
• After 180, empire confronted
by challenges from outside,
growing problems within
• When last of Good Emperors
died, Rome had no strong
leader
• Civil wars broke out
• Rome under increasing threat
of invasions on eastern,
western frontiers
Military Dictatorship
• Emperors increased size of
Rome’s army
• Demands on financial
resources, military caused
economic crisis
• Empire: military dictatorship
• Legions deposed emperors,
elevated own leaders to
throne
• Twenty emperors in 49 years;
all but one died violently

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Economic Troubles
• Insecurity of civil wars, invasions affected Roman life
• Robbery, piracy increased; travel hazardous
• Merchants feared to ship goods
• Military needs required more revenue; emperors raised taxes
Inflation
• Value of money declined as taxes rose
• Emperors minted new coins with copper, lead, and silver
• People refused to accept currency at face value
• Result was dramatic rise in prices, or inflation

5. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
Analyze
What problems faced Rome in the late
200s?
Answer(s): The empire had weak leaders, civil
wars, threats of invasion, and inflation led to a
weak economy. Piracy and robbery made travel
hazardous.

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Attempts at Reform
The crises of the 200s shattered the Roman world. Drastic reforms
had to be made if the empire were to survive. Two capable emperors
rose to power and gave the empire another two centuries of life.
Diocletian
• Diocletian took
power, 284
• Changed empire
into absolute
monarchy
• Placed self above
subjects, ruled with
no accountability to
anyone
Divided Empire
• Divided empire in
two to improve
efficiency
• Ruled eastern half
himself, appointed
co-emperor to rule
western provinces
• Caesars helped run
empire
Rigid Order
• Forced society into
rigid order
• Sons to follow
trades, social
positions of fathers
• Peasants tied to
land they farmed
• Increased army, full
attention to defense

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Economic Reforms
Imperial economy came under state direction
with Diocletian
• Commercial, manufacturing activities geared toward
needs of imperial defense
– New tax system raised more money for government, army
– Reforms drastic, successful
• Saved empire from immediate economic collapse

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State Control
Constantine
• Constantine continued state
control over society
• Made two profound decisions to
affect direction of future empire:
converted to Christianity; built
new capital—Constantinople,
“city of Constantine”—on site of
village of Byzantium
• Eastern half of empire richer,
better defended; Constantine
wanted capital there
Diocletian Retires
• Diocletian’s initiatives worked
well while he remained emperor
• Diocletian, co-emperor retired,
305; two caesars rose to
become co-emperors
• New emperors quarreled;
empire plunged into civil war
• 312, order restored when
Constantine declared emperor
by his troops; put end to fighting

9. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
Analyze
How did Diocletian and Constantine try to
save Rome?
Answer(s): Diocletian—tried to make
governmental and economic reforms and build up
the army; Constantine—moved capital to the
eastern half of the empire

10. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
Invasion and Fall
2. Unfortunately, the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine did not
solve the overwhelming problems of the empire. During the 300s and
400s, these problems were only worsened by tribal peoples’ increasing
pressures on the empire’s frontier.
The Invaders
• Germanic tribes lived along, raided
Rome’s frontiers for centuries
• New peoples moved west from
Central Asia, pushed Germanic
tribes into empire
• Rulers in Rome, Constantinople
tried to hold empire together
Huns
• Late 300s, Huns stormed out of
east and sent Germanic tribes
fleeing
• Imperial defenses in east held, but
those in west overwhelmed
• Huns formed vast empire among
nomadic steppe peoples of Eurasia
About 370 Huns attacked the Ostrogoths, a Germanic people living
north of the Black Sea.

11. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
Migrating Tribes
Goths
• Assault on Ostrogoths frightened kinsmen, Visigoths
• Visigoths fled into Roman Empire, Italy
• Visigoths captured and sacked Rome itself, 410
Vandals
• Other migrating tribes soon attacked Roman Empire
• Infamous for destroying everything in path; Vandals attacked Rome in 450s
• Term vandal came to mean “one who causes senseless destruction”
3. Attila
• Leader of Huns, led attack on Gaul
• Roman army allied with Visigoths, defeated Huns, 451
• Attila next turned on Rome; but Pope Leo I persuaded him to leave Italy

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Fall of the West
Western Empire
• Despite Huns’ withdrawal, Western Empire in shambles
• Germanic tribes ruled most of western provinces, including Italy
• Ostrogoths overthrew last emperor
• Many historians consider this the end of the Western Roman Empire
Eastern Empire
• Despite western collapse, Eastern Empire endured for several
centuries
• People of Eastern Empire always thought of selves as Romans
• Over time other influences, especially Greek, crept into culture
• As a result of these influences, historians refer to the later period of
the Eastern Empire by a new name, the Byzantine Empire.

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Identify Cause and Effect
How did invaders contribute to Rome’s fall?
Answer(s): The invasion of tribes from Central
Asia caused Germanic tribes to flee into the
Empire, where resistance had been weakened.

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19. Rome and Early Christianity Section 5
Video
The Impact of Ancient Rome on the World
Today
Click above to play the video.