Causes of Rome's Decline

Which of the following best describes how economic problems contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?

• The empire had too much gold and silver, causing inflation.

• Heavy taxes and reliance on slave labor weakened the economy.

• The empire stopped trading with other countries.

• The Roman army refused to accept payment.

Which of these is an example of how military issues led to the decline of the Roman Empire?

• The Roman army only fought in civil wars.

• The empire hired foreign mercenaries who were less loyal.

• The Roman army was the largest in the world.

• The army refused to use new weapons.

How did political corruption affect the stability of the Roman Empire?

• It made the government more efficient.

• It led to frequent changes in leadership and weakened authority.

• It improved the relationship with neighboring countries.

• It increased the size of the Senate.

Which of the following best explains the impact of the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves?

• It made the empire stronger and more united.

• It weakened the empire by creating two separate governments.

• It led to the immediate fall of both halves.

• It caused the empire to expand further.

Which of these factors was a result of the Roman Empire’s vast size?

• It was easy to defend all borders.

• Communication and control became difficult across distant regions.

• The empire had no need for roads.

• All citizens spoke the same language.

Imagine you are a Roman citizen during the late empire. Based on what you know about the reasons for the fall, what might you notice about the government and military that would make you worry about the future of Rome? Use evidence from what you have learned.

• The government is stable and the military is strong.

• There are frequent changes in leadership and the army is hiring more foreign soldiers.

• The government is building new cities and the army is growing.

• The Senate is passing new laws to help the poor.

Suppose you are an advisor to the emperor. Which strategy would you recommend to address the economic problems facing the Roman Empire, and why?

• Increase taxes on the poor.

• Reduce reliance on slave labor and encourage new businesses.

• Stop all trade with other countries.

• Spend more money on entertainment.

Analyze how invasions by barbarian tribes contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. Which statement best uses evidence to support this idea?

• The invasions had no effect on the empire.

• The invasions weakened the empire by capturing important cities and resources.

• The invasions helped the empire grow larger.

• The invasions improved the Roman army’s skills.

If you were to compare the internal problems (like corruption and economic troubles) with external threats (like invasions), which do you think was more damaging to the Roman Empire, and why?

• Internal problems, because they weakened the empire from within and made it vulnerable to attacks.

• External threats, because the empire was always strong internally.

• Neither, because the empire was never in danger.

• Both were equally unimportant.

Using your understanding of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire, which combination of problems would most likely cause a modern country to face similar challenges?

• Strong leadership and a growing economy.

• Political corruption, economic troubles, and weak borders.

• A small population and a strong military.

• Good communication and loyal citizens.