The fall of Rome

Fall of Rome

Poll

When did Rome fall?

• 476 AD

• 1453 AD

When did Rome fall?

The Roman Empire was split in 395 AD upon the death of Theodosius I, Roman Emperor in Constantinople. He divided the provinces up into east and west between his two sons. By 476, the position of Western Roman Emperor lost effective control over the scattered Western domains. Barbarian kingdoms had established their own power in much of the area of the Western Empire. In 476, Odoacer deposed the last emperor Romulus Augustulus in Italy, and sent the imperial insignia to the Eastern Emperor. The Eastern Roman Empire survived, and remained an effective power until 1453 when Constantinople, its capital was conquered by the Ottomans.

Poll

When did Rome fall?

• 476 AD

• 1453 AD

Why did Rome fall?

Demandt's 210 reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire. What does this list suggest?

What does the long list of possible reasons suggest?

That the decline was a complex process caused by many different factors which combined with each other and gradually led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Reasons we examine

• Economic problems

• Overexpansion

• Rise of the Eastern parts

• Barbarian invasion

• Moral decline

Economic crisis - Why? Look for the two key words.

From circa 200 BC to AD 150, it was warm, wet, and stable across much of the territory the Romans conquered. In an agricultural economy, these conditions were a major boost to GDP. The population swelled yet still there was enough food to feed everyone. But from the middle of the second century, the climate became less reliable. The all-important annual Nile flood became erratic. Droughts and severe cold spells became more common. In addition, globalization which brought wealth to the Romans also led to pandemics taking millions of lives.

Multiple Select

Which two of the following was cause of economic decline?

• Climate change

• Plagues

• Inflation

• Wars

Overexpansion

Under emperor Trajan Roman Empire reached its greatest extent. When was it?

His successor Hadrian had to change his military policies. He created a system of defence on the borders known as "limes". What example of the limes can you see in the video?

Why can we call this time overexpansion?

What problems did overexpansion cause?

Rise of the East

Deocletian created a new system of government named tetrarchy. Look at the picture about the statue of the rulers. What did he do with the empire?

Look at the map. How did Diocletian choose his capitals?

Poll

Which capital do you think he chose for himself?

• Nicomedia ( Izmir in modern Turkey)

• Sirmium (Szávaszentdemeter in modern Serbia)

• Mediolanum (Modern Milan in Italy)

• Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier, in Germany)

The Tetrarchy

The Tetrarchy is the term adopted to describe the system of government of the ancient Roman Empire instituted by Roman EmperorDiocletian in 293, marking the end of the Crisis of the Third Century and the recovery of the Roman Empire. The government of the empire was divided between the two senior emperors, and their juniors and designated successors. The four tetrarchs based themselves not at Rome but in other cities closer to the frontiers, mainly intended as headquarters for the defence of the empire. Rome continued to be nominal capital of the entire Roman Empire

Constantine the Great

Founding of Constantinople

What is Contantinople called in Hungarian? What is it called now?

Barbarian invasions -Migration period

Look at the map. When did it start?

What could the Romans do against them?

• fight them

• negotiate, give land in return for military service

• bribe them with money to attack elsewhere

Attila: 434-453

• What were the Huns like? (Military, lifestyle)

• How is Attila described?

• What army did the Romans have?

• Why were the Huns more of a threat to the Romans than the Germans?

Poll

Some people say that Hungarians descended from or related to the Huns. What do you think? Can we be proud of such relatives?

• Yes, because they built an empire

• Yes, because the defeated the Romans

• No, because they were barbaric and cruel

• No, because they were successful only for a short period of time

• I can't choose, I have different opinion.

Battle of the Catalaunian Plains 451

Who were two armies and who led them?

When did the battle take place?

What is its significance?

What did the Romans achieve? 

What did the Huns achieve?

Why did not the Huns expand their empire further?

What does the text suggest about the fall of Rome?

"Így minden ország támasza, talpköve

A tiszta erkölcs, melly ha megvész:

Róma ledűl, s rabigába görbed. "

(Berzsenyi Dániel: A MAGYAROKHOZ)

What does the quote suggest about the fall of Rome?

Poll

To what extent do you agree with the quote "“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” "

• Absolutely

• Mostly

• Somewhat

• Absolutely not