The Fall of Rome

There are many reasons civilizations fall... some include, Social Reasons, Political Reasons, Economic Reasons, and Military Reasons. 

Social Reasons deal with society as a whole and the crumbling of it, ex. society no longer follows organized laws etc.

Economic Reasons- this deals with the economy, and money/trade etc. Example Imports and Exports drastically decline, causing trade to collapse and people starve etc. 

Ploitical reasons can deal with weak leaders, corruption etc. 

Military Reasons can deal with military defeats, coup de tats, corruption, power struggles etc etc. 

You will read an article on the fall of the roman empire. (In the Evaluation section of the Webquest)

After reading you will fill out a worksheet/graphic organizer on the fall of the Roman Empire (using the reading)

Read the article on the fall of Rome. In the Evaluation section)

          The title of the Article is Causes for the Fall of Rome (or Roman Empire). OR Read it in the Evaluation section of this webquest. 

You will find the Graphic organizer on Mr. B's website 

          Follow same instructions to get the graphic organizer on the fall of the roman empire. (you can cut and paste this into google docs and send it to me. OR you can write it on a blank sheet of paper. 

While you are reading, you can take notes on anything that you feel is a negative for the Roman Empire and may have caused it to fall apart. Example: The empire became too big so it had to be split into 2 halves. THis weakened the empire as it split everything, money, power, military etc. (This can go into Political, Economic and Military reasons for the fall of the empire. 

THIS IS THE HARDEST OF THE WEBQUESTS!!! You may also use your textbooks to help you. Go to the chapter on Rome and find the section on the fall of the roman empire. Don't ask me the page I will not give it to you. Good Luck. 

Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire

1. Antagonism between the Senate and the Emperor

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Antagonism between the Senate and the Emperor. The Roman Emperor had the legal power to rule Rome’s religious, civil and military affairs with the Senate acting as an advisory body. The emperor had power over life and death. The powerful, spoilt, wealthy Roman Emperors inevitably became corrupt and many lived a debauched, deluded and immoral lifestyle. The Roman Empire saw many examples of antagonism between the Senators and the Emperors. Either the Senators didn't like the Emperor or the Emperors was at odds with the Senators.

2. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Political Corruption and the Praetorian Guard

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Political Corruption and the Praetorian Guard. The  power of the Praetorian Guard, the elite soldiers who made up the bodyguard of the emperor, led to political corruption and grew to such an extent that this massive group of soldiers decided on whether an emperor should be disposed of and who should become the new emperor! The story of Sejanus, who was the commander of the Praetorian Guard during the reign of Tiberius, illustrates the extent of the power of the Praetorians. At one point the Praetorian Guard sold at auction the throne of the world to the highest bidder.

3. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Fast expansion of the Empire

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Fast expansion of the Empire. The rapid growth in the lands conquered by the Empire led to the need to defend the borders and territories of Rome. The people of the conquered lands, most of whom were referred to as Barbarians, hated the Romans. Taxes on the non-Romans were high and constantly increased. Frequent rebellions arose.

4. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Constant Wars and Heavy Military Spending

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Constant Wars and Heavy Military Spending. Constant warfare required heavy military spending. The Roman army became over-stretched and needed more and more soldiers. The barbarians, who had been conquered, and other foreign mercenaries were allowed to join the Roman army.

5. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics. The knowledge that the Barbarians gained of Roman style of warfare and military tactics by serving in the Roman army were eventually turned against the Empire and led to the sack of Rome by the Visigoths led by an ex-army soldier, Alaric.

6. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Failing Economy and High Inflation

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Failing Economy and high inflation. The Government was constantly threatened by bankruptcy due to the cost of defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy taxation and high inflation was another Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire. The majority of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire failed to share in the incredible prosperity of Rome. The amount of gold sent to the orient to pay for luxury goods led to a shortage of gold to make Roman coins. Roman currency was devalued to such an extent that a system of bartering returned to one of the greatest civilisations the world had ever known.

7. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Unemployment of the Working Classes

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Unemployment of the Working Classes. Cheap slave labor resulted in the unemployment of the Plebs in Rome who became dependent on hand-outs from the state. The Romans attempted a policy of unrestricted trade but this led to the Plebs being unable to compete with foreign trade. The government were therefore forced to subsidize the working class Romans to make up the differences in prices. This resulted in thousands of Romans choosing just to live on the subsides sacrificing their standard of living with an idle life of ease. The massive divide between the rich Romans and the poor Romans increased still further. 

8. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - The 'Mob' and the cost of the Gladiatorial Games

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the 'Mob' and the cost of the Gladiatorial Games. If the thousands of unemployed Romans became bored this led to civil unrest and rioting in the streets. The 'Mob' needed to be amused - spectacular gladiatorial games had to be provided. The cost of the gladiatorial games was born by the Emperors, and therefore the state, and corrupt politicians who sponsored the games to curry favor and support with the 'Mob'. The cost of the gladiatorial games eventually came to one third of the total income of the Roman Empire.

9. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Decline in Ethics and Values

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Decline in Ethics and Values. Life became cheap - blood shed led to more blood shed and extreme cruelty. The values, the ideals, customs, traditions and institutions, of the Romans declined. The basic principles, standards and judgments about what was valuable or important in life declined. The total disregard for human and animal life resulted in a lack of ethics - a perverted view of what was right and wrong, good and bad, desirable and undesirable. Any conformity to acceptable rules or standards of human behaviour were being lost.

10. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Slave Labor

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Slave Labor. The number of slaves increased dramatically during the first 2 centuries of the Roman Empire. The Roman's dependency on slave labor led not only to the decline in morals, values and ethics but also to the stagnation of any new technology to produce goods more efficiently. Romans could rely on the slave manpower for all their needs but this reliance inhibited technological change and growth. The treatment of slaves led to rebellion and several Servile (Slave) Wars, the most famous being the revolt led by the gladiator slave, Spartacus. In the later centuries of the Empire and the advent of Christianity the attitudes towards slaves changed. With manumission (the act of freeing a slave) the number of slaves declined together with the manpower that Rome was dependent upon.

11. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Natural Disasters

One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire were the Natural Disasters. During the time of the Roman Empire there were not only foreign wars, civil wars, street fights, fires and revolts there were also natural disasters such as plagues, famines and earthquakes. As in all periods and societies the people looked for someone to blame and different religions to turn to.

12. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Barbarian Invasion

The last of the causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Barbarian Invasion. Rome had fierce foreign enemies. There were great Barbarian armies consisting of warriors such as the Visigoths, Huns and the Vandals. The final death blow to the Roman Empire was inflicted by these Barbarians. The city of Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and by the Vandals in 455 signalling the disintegration of Roman authority and the Fall of the Roman Empire.

13. Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire Roman Empire

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