F)+Fall+of+Rome

 Why did the Greatest Empire the World had ever known Fall?

At the height of its power, the Roman Empire extended the benefits of its civilization to a 60 million citizens and subjects in a swathe of territory that extended from Hadrian's Wall to the banks of the Euphrates. Even under the rule of [|mad, bad and dangerous emperors] (De Imperatoribus Romanis - Rulers of Rome), the imperial system proved to be robust, bolstered by the support of elite families in the far-flung corners of the empire whose loyalty was ensured by a system of cultural aspiration, economic opportunity and military coercion. But the material benefits of the 'good order' delivered by Roman rule provided its citizens and subjects with the security to ask profound questions about the meaning of life, questions that the pragmatic, polytheistic Roman belief system was ill-equipped to answer. Christianity grew to fill the spiritual vacuum at the heart of Roman civilization, eventually claiming an Emperor, Constantine, as its greatest prize. The City of Man would be eclipsed the City of God. (//Ancient Worlds//, Richard Miles) media type="youtube" key="7oTtuaNLhMg" height="449" width="799" align="center"

So what went wrong? //We've already seen that the Rise of Christianity began to break down traditional Roman values. // //But that explanation only goes so far... // **Task 1)** Read this handout which recaps the Rise of Rome and what made it 'Great' and gives an overview of many of the factors which contributed to its Fall.   **Task 2)** Using the graphic organizer on slide 23 of the powerpoint below record in bullet point notes the Causes of the Fall of the Roman Empire under the categories of Economic Causes, Social Causes, Military Causes & Political Causes.

Classwork Documents:







The maps and videoclips below show how the Empire was divided in a Tetrarchy (Rule by Four) by the Emperor Diocletian in 293 C.E. show the locations and invasions of the Barbarian tribes between 100-500 C.E.

Political Causes

media type="youtube" key="6cwf8e_RSfw" height="345" width="460" align="center"

A 2 minute explanation of why Diocletian decided to divide the Empire and create a Tetrarchy (Rule by Four) Military Causes media type="youtube" key="nc_DFs2ZzD8" height="315" width="560" align="center"

10 Minute docu-drama focusing on the what led to Alaric's Sack of Rome in 410 C.E.  <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Graded Assignment: Essay on "Why did Rome Decline & Fall?   <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">