Section+6-4+The+Fall+of+the+Roman+Empire

Chapter 6-4: The Fall of the Roman Empire

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//A Century of Crisis:// - Marcus Aurelius reign ended Pax Romana - Following rulers couldn't handle large empire - Rome began to decline

//Rome's Economy Weakens:// - 3rd century AD Rome's economy started to weaken - Hostile tribes and pirates disrupted trade - Such large empire started to lack resources such as gold and silver - Government raised taxes - Made more money <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Suffered inflation <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Agriculture also suffered due to overworked soil

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Military and Political Turmoil:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- 3rd century AD Roman army in turmoil <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Became less disciplined <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Soldiers gave alliance to commanders <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Commanders fought for throne <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - Government hired mercenaries <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Loyalty of citizens weakened

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Diocletian Reforms the Empire:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- 284 AD Diocletian became more emperor <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Stronger willed military leader <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Gave citizens limited personal freedoms <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Restored order in empire + strengthened original <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Claimed he was a decedent from the gods <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Divided empire into Greek east and Roman west <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- When Diocletian retired and after the civil war broke out

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Constantine Moves the Capital:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Constantine gained control of west part of Roman empire <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - Continued with Diocletian's ideas <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Moved capital of Rome to Byzantium in Turkey <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Capital moved from west to east <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Eventually became Constantinople

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Attila the Hun:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- The Huns invade the Empire <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- 444 United under Attila the Hun <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- In East plundered 70 cities <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Couldn't conquer Constantinople <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- AD 452 Attila tried to conquer Rome <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">- Couldn't conquer it

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//An Empire no More:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">-