The 200 year period of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire ended with the murder of Emperor Commudus

Roman Empire was weakened in the 3rd century by internal and external conflicts

• Emperors were weak and corrupt

• Army kept switching their allegiances from emperor to emperor

• Majority of the Emperors didn’t live long

• Resources were strained

• The Empire was too large to manage efficiently

• High inflation rates

• Emperor gained more dictatorial powers

The size of the army grew in the 3rd century

• Soldiers were raised to the highest level of public power, no matter their birth

The Roman Empire faced internal violence and external threats from Germanic barbarians

Germanic society lived in small villages

• Lived in patriarchal households

• Pagans/Polytheistic

• While husbands were at war, women managed the lands and household

• Made up of clans

Imperial organization in the late 3rd century allowed for the empire to regain stability

Empire was divided into parts as it was too great to be ruled as a whole

There are many different theories on the fall of Rome, with it being impossible to pinpoint just one cause

• Political, social, economic, or militaristic conflicts

• Barbarian invasions

• Decreased prestige of Senate

• Abolishment of political rivals in upper classes

• Christianity

Despite half of the Empire falling, the other half went on to survive for another 1000 years