NAME ______DATE ______CLASS ______
Directions: Read the section then read each main idea and answer the questions below. Refer to your textbook to write the answers.INCLUDE CONTENT VOCAB IN YOUR ANSWERS.
A.Main Idea: New problems arose in Rome soon after the death of Marcus Aurelius in
A.D. 180. A period of conflict, confusion, and civil wars followed.
1.What effect did multiple invasions & military rule have on Rome in the third century?
A MILITARY GOVERNMENT RESTORED ORDER LEADING TO A SERIES OF MILITARY COUPS FOR THE ROMAN THRONE – during this time there were 22 Emperors most of whom died violently; this weakness led invaders to swoop in & further diminish the Empire’s strength.
2.What crisis nearly caused economic collapse in the empire?
A LABOR SHORTAGE CAUSED BY PLAGUE (epidemic/widespread illness); IT CAUSED A DECLINE IN TRADE, INDUSTRY & FARM PRODUCTIVITY; IT ALSO LED TO SHORTAGES IN MILITARY RECRUITMENT SO ROME HAD TO HIRE GERMANS TO FIGHT (they had little loyalty to the Empire or the Emperor).
3.How did Diocletian and Constantine give new life to the late Roman Empire?
THESE 2 EMPERORS INSTITUTED POLITICAL, SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CHANGES; the reforms essentially split the Roman Empire in two (Eastern capital was Constantinople; Western capital was Rome). The policies helped at first but coercion within the government caused more harm in the long run.
4.What was the effect of enlarging the CIVIL SERVICE & ARMY?
IT LED TO THE ENLARGMENT OF THE BUREAUCRACY WHICH REQUIRED MORE REVENUE; but the majority of the people of Rome were poor & their taxes couldn’t generate enough $$ - which was very damaging to the economy. Prices rapidly increased (INFLATION) as businessmen tried to make a profit; all of which greatly weakened Rome’s economy.
B.Main Idea: After the death of Constantine, the Roman Empire split and the western part of the empire collapsed under pressure from the Germanic tribes.
1. How was eastern Rome impacted by these changes?By end of 4th century Eastern & Western Rome were operating independently of each other – each fighting off outside invaders trying to remain intact.
2. Who were the Masters of the Soldiers?Military Commanders who controlled the government & dominated the Imperial Court.
3. Who finally sacked Rome, and which emperor did he depose? A German tribe over threw the last Roman Emperor – Romulus - & the Western Roman Empire ends in 476 AD; the Eastern Empire survives another thousand years.
4. Summarize the 6 factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire (p. 158) & highlight the TWO you consider as having the most negative impact.
- Christianity weakened loyalty to Roman Empire;
- As outsiders became more important in the Empire the traditional Roman values became less important
- Lead poisoning in the water system caused a mental decline in the population;
- Plague caused a drop in the population;
- Slavery kept technological innovation from happening
- None of the political systems that were put into place worked well to successful manage the Roman Empire as it grew so large with time.