Fall of Rome Review

Why did Diocletian divide the Roman Empire into four parts?

• The senate voted for it

• Generals forced him to

• He had four

• It was too big for one person to govern

Few historians today believe that one single cause led to the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire. Most say that the decline should be understood as the combination of serious problems inside the empire and repeated attacks from outside. The internal issues are often divided into categories: political, economic, social, military, and religious (see chart). Together, these factors weakened Rome, making outside attacks more likely to be successful. And yet, as one historian points out, today most “Western languages, laws, religions, customs, and culture are in some way fundamentally Roman.” So although the empire itself disappeared, its influence is felt to this day.         Which sentence BEST states a central idea of the text?

• There were other empires in history that were larger and more influential than Rome

• Most major historical events are caused by multiple factors

• Both internal problems and outside attacks led to the decline of the Western Roman Empire

• The Roman Empire went from powerful to weak in a short span of time

Diocletian responded to the size of the Roman Empire by:

• dividing it into smaller regions

• giving more power to Germanic communities

• moving the capital out of Rome

• creating a more democratic government

Constantinople was built in what is TODAY the nation of

• Greece

• Turkey

• Bulgaria

• Iraq

Which statement BEST describes how the Roman system of road strengthened the Roman Empire?

• It gave Roman laborers an opportunity to work in nearby territories.

• It created demand for building materials that were produced in Rome

• It allowed citizens to travel freely to government buildings in Rome.

• It helped the Roman military maintain its rule over distant territories.

Which of the following are NOT considered part of the Roman Empire's contribution to the history of architecture?

• stained glass windows

• domes and arches

• concrete buildings

• large public arenas

Which of the following problems were LEAST responsible for the Fall of the Roman Empire?

• economic hardships

• religious conflicts

• military failures

• corrupt leaders

The map was MOST LIKELY created to show

• how various barbarian groups attacked the Roman Empire.

• how the army increased the size of the Roman Empire.

• where the most popular trade routes were in the Roman Empire

• where Roman emperors traveled in order to rule the Roman Empire.

Which city became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire

• Athena

• Rome

• Constantinople

• Raveena

What geographic factor contributed MOST to the strength of the empire during this period?

• protection provided by the Alps between Italy and France

• effective control of the Mediterranean Sea

• access to ports on the Atlantic Ocean

• the natural barrier formed by the Sahara Desert