Fall of Rome Flashcards
1
Q
Challenges for Western Rome? (6)
A
- More easily penetrable frontiers
- No centralized enemy to negotiate with
- Lacked the cultural connection & density the East had
- Led by innefective emperors most of the 5th century
- Allowed tribes in army, which hurt unity of army
- East-West rivalries
2
Q
Division of Empire
A
- happened after Theodosius died
- Power struggles between Stilicho and Alaric around 400
3
Q
Stilicho v Alaric
A
395-410
- Alaric invaded Italy in 410
- Stilicho pulled troops from Rhine to defend
- Stilicho killed, but Visigoths eventually settled in France to defend from vandals
4
Q
430s
A
Around 430s, Romans were fighting among themselves. In the meantime, tribes invaded
Carthage seized by 434
5
Q
440s
A
Around 440s, Attila continued to destabilize the West
He was beaten, but mainly by other tribes, not Roman armies
6
Q
408
A
Britain off the map
7
Q
455 (personal)
A
Aetius, the capable ruler in the West who had kept the empire alive, was assassinated by power hungry Valentian the III
This threw the West into chaos
8
Q
455 (trend)
A
By 455, Barbarian incursions had largely limited Western Rome to the peninsula
9
Q
460
A
Around 460, need for grain forced Romans to try and reconquer N. Africa
This effort failed
