Decline and Fall of Roman Empire Day 2

Page 150

Document F: Suetonius

The excerpt below was written by the historian Suetonius, who wrote almost 100

years after Octavian died.

Octavian always shrank from the title of “Lord.” When the words “O just and gracious Lord!” were spoken in a play at which he was a spectator and all the people sprang to their feet and applauded as if the words had been directed at him, he immediately stopped them with a look, and on the following day insisted that the line be removed from the play. After that he would not allow himself to be called “Sire” even by his children or his grandchildren either as a joke or seriously, and he forbade them to use such flattering terms even among themselves.

Document F: Suetonius

If he could help it, he did not leave or enter any city or town except in the evening or at night, to avoid disturbing anyone by the obligations of ceremony. He commonly went through the streets on foot. His morning receptions were open to all, including commoners, and he met the requests of those who approached him with great friendliness.

When meeting with the Senate he always greeted the members in the House and in their seats, calling each man by name; and when he left the House, he used to take leave of them in the same manner, while they remained seated. When Gallus Cerrinius, a senator with whom he was not at all intimate, had suddenly become blind and had therefore decided to commit suicide, Augustus called on him and by his consoling words convinced him to live.

Answer on page 150

• Based on this document, what kind of leader was Augustus?

  • What words come to mind to describe Augustus based on this description?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

• Evidence from the document to support these reasons

  • Write at least one phrase from the document that supports your claim.

• Is this document reliable? Why or why not?

  • The document is reliable because ....

  • The document is not reliable because ...

Write a Claim

• Look back at Documents A - F. How could you summarize Augustus as a leader?

  • Augustus was a _______ leader because ....

You cannot use GOOD or BAD

Page 145

Multiple Choice

What were the main actions of the Huns during their migration?

• They settled in Italy

• They raided the eastern empire

• They formed alliances with Rome

• They migrated to Africa

Multiple Choice

What significant event did the Visigoths, led by Alaric, accomplish in 410 CE?

• They captured Constantinople

• They sacked Rome

• They defeated the Huns

• They formed an alliance with the Romans

Multiple Choice

Finally, in 476, the Germanic leader Odoacer staged a revolt and deposed the Emperor Romulus Augustulus. From then on, no Roman emperor would ever again rule from a post in Italy, leading many to cite 476 as the year the Western Empire suffered its deathblow.

The text above best supports the claim that:

• The Roman government was unable to provide enough support to the Roman military to halt Germanic invasions leading to the last Roman emperor holding power in 476

• The Roman government was unable to stop revolutions that formed inside Rome's military leading to the last Roman emperor holding power in 476

• After a Germanic revolt in 476, the Roman emperor Romulus Augustulus gained power becoming the last Roman emperor

• The year 476 is known as the year of the fall of Rome despite Rome's government success to support Rome's military in fighting against Germanic invasions

Multiple Choice

Why was the size of the Roman Empire a problem that contributed to the empire's fall?

• The size of the empire made it hard to defend.
• Many emperors were needed to rule the empire.
• Much of the empire was empty land with no population.
• Most of the empire was dry land that could not support farming.

Multiple Select

What were some military causes that contributed to the decline of Rome?

• Foreign invasions

• Lack of training

• Reliance on mercenaries

• Not enough money to pay soldiers

Multiple Select

What were some political causes that contributed to the weakening of the Empire?

• No rules of succession for the Emperor

• Many corrupt public officials

• Dividing the Empire weakened it

• People were more loyal to the emperor than they were to the Church

Multiple Select

What are the economic causes mentioned in the image?

• High taxes to support the army and government

• The middle class becomes poorer, loses land

• Reliance on slavery as a labor source

• Famine led to food shortage

Multiple Select

What were the social causes that led to the decline in population according to the image?

• Disease and war

• Emperors could not afford to entertain the people

• Technological advancements

• Loss of cultural values

Math Response

The fall of the Roman Empire was the collapse of the Roman government in the year AD ____.

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 476

Deg^°

Rad

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a reason for the Fall of Rome?

• Barbarian Invasion

• Weak Emperors

• Corrupt government

• Famine

Multiple Choice

High taxes and unemployment are considered what kind of reasons for the fall of the empire? 

• political
• economic
• foreign invasion 
• military 

Multiple Choice

What event do many historians consider the end of the Western Roman Empire?

• Constantine dividing the empire
• a barbarian general overthrowing the emperor and naming himself king
• a Roman general overthrowing the emperor and naming himself king
• Justinian moving the capital to the east

Multiple Choice

The Roman Empire had 4 major issues they were Political, Social, Economic, and ?

• Social

• Military

• Education

• Poverty

Multiple Choice

The Roman Empire fell in 410 CE because this group defeated Rome:

• The Mongolians

• The Huns

• The Greeks

• The Germans

Pages 146 and 147

Directions

1. Read each reason for the Fall of the Roman Empire listed in your notebook.

2. Label it as one of the following (you can choose more than one for each reason)

   1. Political - Government, Leadership, Laws, Senate

   2. Military - Soldiers, Army, War, Issues with other foreign groups

   3. Economic - Trade, Taxes, Money, Agriculture

   4. Social - Culture, Religion, Daily Life of Citizens, Class Issues

3. Based on your choices on page 146, answer the questions on page 147.

1. Which category has the most reasons in it?

   1. Count up which category you choose the most.

2. What is the MOST important category? (Note: this may not be the one with the most reasons in it!) EXPLAIN why you think so.

   1. Opinion: Which category had the biggest impact?

3. What is the LEAST important category? EXPLAIN why you think so.

   1. Opinion: Which category had the smallest impact?

4. What is the MOST important reason for the end of the (Western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN why you think so.

   1. Opinion: Which individual reason do you think caused the fall of Rome?

5. What is the LEAST important reason for the end of the (western) Roman Empire? EXPLAIN why you think so.

   1. Opinion: Which individual reason do you think had the smallest impact on the fall of Rome?