Decline and Fall of Rome

Economic and Military Problems

200 BCE

Rome's economy started to fall apart. As the government weakened, law and order got bad. Soldiers and invaders seized crops and destroyed fields. Shops closed and jobs were low forcing many people hungry and jobless.

Economic and military problems.

200

In the 200s A.D. Rome's economy started to crumble. As the gov. weakened the law and order fell. Roman soldiers and invaders seized crops and destroyed fields. Businesses closed and jobs were low leaving many people poor and hungry.

Political and Social Problems

235

When the last ruler died in A.D. 235 Rome’s government became weak. For about 50 years army leaders fought each other for the power. During this time, Rome had many different emperors.
Poor leadership was not Rome’s only difficulty.

Diocletian’s Reforms

284

In A.D. 284 a general named Diocletian became emperor. He introduced reforms or political changes to make things better, because the empire was too big for just a single ruler. Diocletian divided it into four parts. He named officials to rule these areas but kept authority over all.

Romans and Visigoths

300

In the late A.D. 300s the Huns attacked Eastern Europe and defeated the Ostrogoths. Not long after, things got bad between the Visigoths and Romans. The empire forced the Visigoths to buy food at very high prices. The Romans also kidnapped and enslaved many Visigoths.

Constantine

312

Constantine became emperor in 312. Some of Constantine rules were, the sons of workers had to follow their fathers’ trades, the sons of farmers had to work the land their fathers worked, and the sons of soldiers had to serve in the army.

Theodosius

337

Constantine died in A.D. 337 and fighting broke out again. Theodosius became ruler and ended the fighting. Theodosius decided to divide the empire after his death.

Romans Surrender

378

In A.D. 378 they defeated Roman legions at the Battle of Adrianople. After that defeat, Rome was forced to surrender land to the Visigoths.

Division

395

Roman Empire divided into eastern and western parts.

Winter Freeze

406

In the winter of A.D. 406, the Rhine River in Western Europe froze. Germanic groups crossed the frozen river and entered Gaul

Alaric

410

In A.D. 410 the Visigoth leader Alaric and his soldiers captured Rome. They burned records and stole the treasury. Rome’s capture by Alaric was a great shock to the empire.

Theft

455

Germanic tribes entered Rome spending 12 days cleaning out buildings of everything valuable and burning them.

Odoacer

476

In A.D. 476 a Germanic general named Odoacer took control overthrowing the western emperor.

Extinct

550

A.D. 550 the Western Roman Empire was gone, however many Roman beliefs and practices remained in use For example, Europe’s new Germanic rulers adopted the Latin language, Roman laws, and Christianity.