fall of rome

Who was the last good emperor

Marcus Aurelius

Characteristics of Commodus

Cruel emperor

Spent a lot of time neglecting the state (cared about self entertainment)

What happened in AD 192

Praetorian Guard killed Commodus

Who ruled Rome after Commodus died

The military

4 main causes of the fall of the Roman Empire

Political

Economic

Social

Foreign enemies

Political problems

No written rule for who was to take the throne.

Military fought for power

Social problems

Few Romans honored old ideals of courage.

Wealthy citizens stopped paying taxes.

Economic problems

Suffered from inflation

Less gold on coins decreased the value of

More taxes paid

People began to bargain instead of using money

Foreign enemies

Germanic tribes started attacking Rome in the west

Persian armies attacked the east

Rome hired Germanic fighters known as mercenaries

True or False: Mercenaries hired by Rome were loyal

False

Diocletian

General who ruled Rome from 284 AD to 305 AD

Ruled by Divine Right

Economic policies form Diocletian

Set prices on goods and wages to slow inflation

What happened to Diocletians reforms

They failed

What did Diocletian do to the empire

Divided it into two parts: Western and Eastern. HOWEVER he ruled both

Constantine

General who took control of the Roman Empire in AD 312

What is Constantinople most known for?

First Roman Emperor to become Christian

What did Constantinople do to the capital?

He moved it to the now city in the east: Constantinople

What happens after Emperor Theodosius gains control?

Empire divides into two separate parts

How is Rome invaded?

Germanic invasions increased in the West

Alaric captures Rome for the first time in 800 years

Vandals spent 12 days stripping Roman buildings of valuables and burned them

455 AD- Considered as Rome’s fall