Fall of the Roman Empire

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Explore what would the Roman
Empire look like today if it did
NOT fall apart.

BEGINNING OF THE END

Pax Romana ended in 180
C.E.
Pax Romana: Latin for “Peace
of Rome”
When the Roman Empire was
at peace and successful for
206 years
Pax Romana was followed
by political instability
•Roman leaders gained power
from the military.

Match

Name the emperor who lead which area.

• Augustus Caesar

• Julius Caesar

• Constantine

• Diocletian

Roman Empire

Roman Republic

Byzantine Empire

Western Roman Empire

• Roman Empire

• Roman Republic

• Byzantine Empire

• Western Roman Empire

DEFENDING THE FRONTIER

Rome’s extended borders were
under constant attack
Rome lost territory
Roman armies were less loyal
to the Emperor after the Pax
Romana
•Rome began hiring mercenaries

•Mercenary: Soldiers who fight for
money

Rome didn’t have enough money
to pay them

SPIRALING ECONOMIC CRISIS

The Spiral

of

Inflation

The emperors
created more
coins.

People believed
the new coins
were not as
valuable.

It required more
coins to buy the
same amount of
food as before.

Roman

emperors

needed
money.

Open Ended

Compare the Roman Empire inflation to United States inflation.

Name 3 similarities.

MANY TROUBLES

Rome made more coins to
fund the government and
military
This caused inflation

 Inflation: a general increase in prices
& fall in the purchasing value of money

These new coins lost value
because of inflation
The inflation and political
instability caused violent
unrest

REASONS FOR THE EMPIRE’S DECLINE

The Roman

Empire declined.

Political
instability

Military
conflict

Economic

crisis

Multiple Choice

Which does not belong to the fall of the Roman Empire?

• political instability

• military conflict

• economic crisis

• military rebellions