Fall of Rome

Click on all the internal factors causing Rome to collapse. Internal factors are those things happening within the Roman Empire.

• Civic duties, like voting, were no longer important.

• Government corruption increased and people lost confidence in their rulers.

• The Roman government was spending too much money and rich patricians were not paying their taxes.

• Leaders were being assassinated and generals were fighting each other.

What did Emperor Diocletian do that ended up hurting the Roman Empire, though at the time he thought he was just better organizing it?

• He cut the Roman military budget.

• He moved the capital of Rome to Constantinople.

• He stopped the killing of the Christians.

• He divided the empire into two halves.

Emperor Constantine made the decision to permanently move the capital of Rome east to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. Click on all the results of this fateful decision.

• The Eastern part of the empire was safe from attack and in a good trade location.

• The Western part of the empire found it was more successful without the Eastern part.

• The Western part of the empire fell to invaders and was generally less powerful.

• The Eastern part of the empire became more powerful as the government and leaders moved there.

The Western part of the Roman Empire was invaded by many different "barbarians." What does this term mean?

• Any group of Romans who do not complete their civic duties.

• Any group of people outside of Rome who are uncivilized and violent.

• Any group of children who refuse to use manners at the dinner table.

• Any group of Germans who do not speak the common Latin language of Rome.

Click on all the different groups of "barbarians" that attacked the western half of the Roman Empire and caused it to come to an end.

• Franks

• Ostrogoths

• Vandals

• Visigoths

While the Western part of the Roman Empire falls, the Eastern part continues for another 1000 years as what empire?

• Constantinople

• Byzantine

• Barbarian

• German

One of the reasons Constantinople was so successful is because of its geographic location. It was centrally located with access to trade routes by sea and land. What is the famous trade route that went through Constantinople and connected Europe and Asia?

• The Constantinople Crossroads

• The Hartong Highway

• The Road to Nowhere

• The Silk Route

Trade routes are an important part in spreading the culture of a particular group of people. Not only are goods exchanged, but ideas travel on trade routes as well. What religion in both Rome and Constantinople spread along these ancient trade routes?

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Hinduism

• Judaism

What warlike group of Asians were also active in Europe during the fall of the Roman Empire?

• Huns

• Mongols

• Greeks

• Egyptians

The Visigoths decided if people were guilty by having them walk on fire or fight in hand to hand combat. This is a lot different than a trial by a jury of your peers and is called what?

• Trial by death

• Trial by jury

• Trial by ordeal

• Trial by action