Section 6: The Fall of the Western Empire
- In 212 A.D. Romans grant citizenship to all free people to collect more taxes
- Rising Inflation
- Inflation a rise in prices cause by a decrease in the value of money
- More and more invaders attacked the provinces
- Diocletian
- A roman general turned emperor that divided the empire into 2 for easier management.
- 2 Emperors ruled with co-emperors. One ruled from Rome, the other Constantinople.
- At the end of his reign, civil war breaks out
- Constantine
- Ended the civil war and loosened the restrictions on Christianity.
- Named the city of Constantinople after him.
- After his death, empire began to fall again.
- The Final Invaders
- Germanic Tribes, the Goths and Vandals, invaded the empire.
- Goths were treated poorly and rose up against the Romans and won.
- They were allowed to settle in the empire and join the army.
- The Huns
- A fierce people from Asia who lived off of raiding and plundering.
- They were led by Attila, who caused havoc across the empire.
- Causes for Decline
- In 476 A.D, Romulus Augustulus, was dethroned. This is the end of the Western Empire.
- The Eastern empire lasts until 1453.
- Political Weakness-The government was designed to rule such a large group of people. Generals vied for the emperor’s seat, and recruited German armies.
- Economic Decline-heavy taxes crushed all people, and the government had run out of money.
- Social Change- the constant fear of invasion and large number of poor, caused a decrease in Roman patriotism.