-
200
200s A.D.
During the A.D. 200s, Rome’s economy began to fall apart. As government weakened, law and order broke down. Roman soldiers and invaders seized crops and destroyed fields. -
235
235 A.D.
When the last Severan ruler died in A.D. 235, Rome’s government became very weak. For almost 50 years, army leaders fought each other for the throne. -
284
284 A.D.
In 284 A.D., a general named Diocleatian became emperor. To stop the empire’s decline, he introduced reforms, or political changes to make things better. -
312
312 A.D.
After a period of conflict, another general named Constantine became emperor in 312 A.D.. -
337
337 A.D.
When Constantine died in A.D. 337, fighting broke out again. A new emperor named Theodosius finale gained control and ended the fighting. -
368
Late 300s A.D.
In the late A.D. 300s, the Huns entered Eastern Europe and defeated the Ostrogoths. -
378
378 A.D.
Finally, the Visigoths rebelled against the Romans. In 378 A.D., they defeated Roman legions at the Battle of Adrianople. -
395
395 A.D.
In A.D. 395, the Roman Empire split into two separate empires. One was the Western Empire, with its capital at Rome. The other was the Eastern Empire with its capital at Constantinople. -
406
406 A.D.
In the winter of 406 A.D., the Rhine River in Western Europe froze. -
410
410 A.D.
In 410 A.D., the Visigoth leader Alaric and his soldiers captured Rome itself. -
455
455 A.D.
In 455 A.D., the Vandals entered Rome. -
476
476 A.D.
In 476 A.D., a Germanic general named Odoacer took control, overthrowing the western emperor, a 14-year-old boy named Romulus Augustulus. -
550
550 A.D.
By 550 A.D., the Western Roman Empire had faded away.
