Decline of Roman Empire

Question 1

Disruption of trade (led to decline of Roman Empire)

Answer 1

hostile tribes outside the boundaries of the empire an pirates on the Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade, having reached their limit on expansion

Question 2

Gold and Silver drain (led to decline of Roman Empire)

Answer 2

lacked new sources of gold and silver; increased taxes and started minting coins that contained less and less silver

Question 3

Inflation (led to decline of Roman Empire)

Answer 3

economy suffered and a drastic drop in the value of money coupled with a rise in prices

Question 4

Decline in loyalty and discipline in military (led to decline of Roman Empire)

Answer 4

commanders kept fighting for the throne for themselves and Roman soldiers ended up giving their allegiance to them instead of Rome

Question 5

Citizen indifference and loss of patriotism (led to decline of Roman Empire)

Answer 5

Romans used to care so deeply about the republic that they’d willingly sacrificed their lives for it, but over time the feeling weakened among average citizens; they became indifferent about the empire’s fate

Question 6

Who was the last emperor of Rome?

Answer 6

Romulus Agustulus

Question 7

When did the Roman Empire fall completely?

Answer 7

476 CE

Question 8

How old was the last emperor of Rome during his time of region?

Answer 8

14 years old

Question 9

How did the fall of the Roman empire come about?

Answer 9

the emperor was deposed by a German general named Odoacer and sent him into exile)

Question 10

What steps did Diocletian take to restore and reform the empire

Answer 10

he doubled the size of the Roman army; divided the empire into Greek-speaking East (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, & Egypt) and the Latin-speaking West (Italy, Gaul, Britain, & Spain) - saying empire had grown too large for one ruler and ends up having a co-ruler but is still in full power; tried to fix inflation & set fixed prices on sold goods & had set wages & set jobs; says he got the right from the Gods to rule

Question 11

What did Constantine do to reform the empire?

Answer 11

took control of East and West - going back to ruling as a single ruler; moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium - the capital was protected by massive walls and filled with imperial buildings modeled after those in Rome; sons of worker had to follow Father’s trade

Question 12

What caused the final collapse of the western Roman Empire?

Answer 12

worsening internal problems, the separation of the Western Empire from the wealthier Eastern part, and outside invasions; Germans attack - cross the Danube River (known as the Battle of Adrainople); iron stirrup - made cavalry (people who fought on horses) stronger than infantry (people who fought on foot) - they could stay on horses better; Danube River froze; pressure from Huns 451; invasion by Germanic tribes

Question 13

Political factors to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Answer 13

political offices seen as burden, not reward; military interference in politics; civil war and unrest; division of empire; moving of capital to Byzantium

Question 14

Social factors to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Answer 14

decline in interest in public affairs; low confidence in empire; disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption; contrast between rich and poor; decline in population due to disease and food shortage

Question 15

Economic factors to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Answer 15

poor harvests; disruption of trade; no more war plunder; gold and silver drain; inflation; crushing tax burden; widening gap between rich and poor and increasingly impoverished Western Empire

Question 16

Military factors to the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Answer 16

threat from northern European tribes; low funds for defense; problems recruiting Roman citizens - recruiting non-Romans; decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers

Question 17

What was the immediate cause of the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Answer 17

invasion by Germanic tribes and by Huns; Sack of Rome by the Visigoths and vandals