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The Decline of the Roman Empire

The Decline of the Roman Empire. Crisis. After the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180, the golden age of the Pax Romana ended. Political violence, civil wars, and instability became the rule in the next 100 years. 22 emperors total. “Bread and Circuses”.

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The Decline of the Roman Empire

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  1. The Decline of the Roman Empire

  2. Crisis • After the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180, the golden age of the Pax Romana ended. • Political violence, civil wars, and instability became the rule in the next 100 years. • 22 emperors total

  3. “Bread and Circuses” • Many emperors tried to distract the Roman masses of people from serious political issues by giving them free bread and entertaining them. • Circus Maximus • Horse and chariot races • Colliseum • Gladiator fights

  4. Circus Maximus

  5. Colliseum

  6. http://podcasts.howstuffworks.com/hsw/podcasts/csotp/2011-01-21-csotp-colosseum.mp4?_kip_ipx=1469016428-1324401293http://podcasts.howstuffworks.com/hsw/podcasts/csotp/2011-01-21-csotp-colosseum.mp4?_kip_ipx=1469016428-1324401293

  7. Emperor Diocletian • (284 A.D.) To make the empire easier to govern, he divided it into two halves—the eastern and western empire. • He kept control of the wealthier eastern part himself, but appointed co-emperors and caesars. • This is called a tetrarchy, or govt. by four rulers

  8. Adoption of Christianity • Christians had been persecuted early on. • Christian church became more structured by utilizing a clergy, or church leaders.

  9. Adoption of Christianity • How did Christianity attract followers? • Message was personal and offered salvation. • Similar to other religions and Jesus was a human figure that was easy to relate to. • Fulfilled human need to belong.

  10. Adoption of Christianity • Christians had become too strong to blot out by force.

  11. Emperor Constantine • (312) Gained throne. • Constantine became the first Christian emperor and was baptized late in his life. • He issued the Edict of Milan • Proclaimed official tolerance and no more persecutions.

  12. Constantine • He built the new capital of Constantinople in the eastern empire on the site of the Greek city of Byzantium. • Diocletian and Constantine’s reforms enlarged the army and civil service, which drained public funds. • Population declined so tax base was not big enough to pay for these. • Massive inflation, or rapid increase in prices

  13. Foreign Invasion • The Germanic peoples invaded. • Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, etc. • The Huns, a nomadic people from Asia, fought fierce battles to dislodge the Germanic peoples in their path. • So the Huns and Germanic peoples attacked and Rome had to surrender Britain, then France and Spain.

  14. The Pantheon

  15. Foreign Invasion • Attila the Hun embarked on a savage campaign across much of Europe and the western Roman empire. • He sent more Germanic peoples fleeing into the Roman empire. • (476) Odacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor of Rome. • Eastern Roman Empire survived for another 1,000 years.

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