Ch. 12 - Lesson 2 ~ "Rome's Decline"

Ch. 12 - Lesson 2 ~ "Rome's Decline"

A Troubled Empire

• After the Pax Romana, Rome experienced civil war for about 100 years. The army grew stronger as the government weakened.

• Values of duty, courage, and honesty changed; support of education declined; many people stopped paying taxes; food shortages and inflation increased.

• Germanic and Persian tribes attacked the weakened empire.

• Diocletian, an army general who became an emperor, tried to reform (changes to bring about improvement) Rome, but failed

Multiple Choice

changes to bring about improvement

• reinforce

• reform

• expand

• participate

Multiple Choice

Diocletian split the empire into four parts to

• make sure taxes were paid

• stop inflation

• split equally between his children

• make it easier to rule

The Fall of Rome

• Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and named it Constantinople.

• After Theodosius died, the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western parts.

• Germanic tribes invaded Roman lands and took over many areas.

• The Western Roman Empire fell when Odoacer, a Germanic general, overthrew the last Roman emperor in A.D. 476 and took control of Rome.

Multiple Choice

Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and named it

• Constantinople.

• Adrianople

Rome's Legacies

• Ancient Roman ideas that influence the United States today include architecture, literature, language, government, religion, and the law.

• In the United States, as in ancient Rome, citizens elect their leaders.

• Architectural elements from the Romans include Roman arches, domes, and the use of concrete.

• The ancient Roman language Latin has influenced the English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian languages.

Multiple Choice

This Roman development remains a major building material today

• Latin

• Christianity

• Republic

• Concrete

Multiple Choice

Many English words have ________ roots, which derived from the language of the Romans.

• English

• Latin

• Portuguese

• Spanish

Architecture and construction also owe much to the ancient Romans

The Roman arch can support large domes. The design of the U.S. Capitol building was influenced by the Romans.