Decline of the Roman Empire

A.D. 180: Rome has problems

Economic (trade become risky, taxes were too high, food supply was dropping)

Military (frontiers were hard to patrol; Roman generals fought for control; soldiers’ loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared)

Diocletian divided the empire into two

Greek-speaking East (had more resources)

Latin-speaking West (Rome, tradition)

Diocletian

Was born in Illyria

He was the son of a freed slave

Rules from 284-303

It’s cool to persecute Christians

Rome needs a big army (400,000)

Rome needs a big government (20,000 officials)

A.D. 324- Constantine becomes emperor over both halves of the empire

Rules from 306-337)

It’s cool to be a Christian

Conversion of Christianity via a cross in the sky (conquer by this)

313-his Edict of Milan proclaims freedom of worship

Moves the capital from to Byzantium (renamed Constantinople), where Asia men Europe (now Turkey)

He built the army to perhaps as many as half a million troops

He shared power with fellow emperors

Constantine’s one historic innovation was in the empire’s relationship with Christianity

After his death, empire divided again this time, “barbarian invaders” (Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, Angles, Saxons, Franks) overrun the empire’s frontiers

That’s it for the Roman Empire (AD 476)

End of Era

From the beginnings…

500 B.C. the monarchy is abolished

450 B.C. the Twelve Tables are established

Through the glory days…

44 B.C. end of the line for Julius Caesar

27 B.C.-180 A.D. the Roman Peace (Pax Romana)

To the bitter end…

Constant fifth century invasions by barbarian tribes left the Western Roman Empire shattered and crumbling

The last emperor was a teenage boy installed in 475 by his father

Barbarians deposed Romulus Augustulus without bothering to kill him