Ch.5-Section IV. Collapse of the Roman Empire

• In the third century, political, economic, and social crises shook the Roman Empire's foundations
• Internal weaknesses were present, and in the fourth and fifth centuries, barbarian invasions occurred.
• Rome's political disorder was a key reason for decline, with an inefficient and wasteful government.
• Unstable leadership was a problem because Romans never adopted a plan for choosing a successor to the emperor.
• Ambitious generals plotted to control the government, drawing the army into political affairs to gain rewards.
• The army elevated military leaders to emperor, but could also remove them if dissatisfied.
• War broke out between legions trying to secure the emperor's throne for their commander, causing political turmoil, assassination, and civil war.
• The army, once the protector of Rome, controlled the state for its own greed.
• Economic troubles were associated with Rome's political issues.
• Maintaining a large army and government bureaucracy drained the treasury.
• The government raised revenue by increasing the tax burden on the people.
• Emperors reduced the silver content in coins, adding cheaper metals, which led to rising prices.
• Inflation was worsened by Rome's trade with India and China, which depleted gold and silver.
• As Roman money became worthless, the barter system replaced it.
• Trade declined, shops closed, poverty increased, and confidence in the economy collapsed.
• Moral decay was another factor in Rome's decline: discipline, patriotism, self-denial, hard work, and respect for authority were replaced by self-indulgence.
• Christians opposed violent games and immorality, which made them stand out in pagan Roman society.
• People looked to the government for free grain and public amusements which burdened the economy.
• Family life disintegrated, divorce and immorality abounded, and superstition increased.
• Hard-working, patriotic citizens became difficult to find

Reform and Reorganization Attempts

• By the end of the third century, the Roman Empire was near collapse, but Diocletian and Constantine introduced reforms that delayed the fall for two centuries.
• Diocletian and Constantine exercised supreme authority to restore order and stability.
• In 284, Diocletian became emperor and reshaped the political structure and believed that the empire was too large for one man to rule.
• Diocletian chose a co-emperor, an augustus, to rule the western half while he ruled the east.
• Each augustus would appoint a caesar to assist and become his successor.
• Diocletian divided the empire into four prefectures, ruled by the two co-emperors and the two caesars.
• Diocletian brought temporary stability to the government and combatted Rome's economic problems.
• To curb inflation Diocletian set maximum prices on goods and services; selling above the limit was punishable by death.
• He introduced new gold and silver coins to revive confidence and reformed the tax system.
• Diocletian's economic measures involved greater government control, which added to the problems they were intended to solve.
• Diocletian retired in 305 causing his system of joint rule fell apart and civil war broke out.
• After eight years, Constantine emerged victorious and continued Diocletian's economic reforms.
• Constantine also ruled from the eastern half of the Roman Empire and built his "New Rome" at Byzantium, named Constantinople.
• The move to the east weakened the western half of the empire.
• Diocletian and Constantine prepared the way for the division of the Roman Empire into two empires.
• The division became permanent in 395 when Emperor Theodosius I split the empire between his sons.
• The Western Roman Empire soon fell to barbarian invaders, but the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, lasted another thousand years.

Barbarian Invasions

• During the late Roman Republic, Germanic peoples moved from northern Europe and settled along Rome's borders and were divided into tribes such as the Angles, Saxons, Franks, Vandals, and Goths.
• Romans described the Germanic people as courageous but restless people given to gambling, and drinking, yet virtuous.
• Romans referred to these people as barbarians who did not share Greek or Roman culture
• Rome enlarged its army to protect its borders from barbarian intruders.
• Emperors allowed Romanized Germanic tribes to settle within Roman territory to serve as a buffer.
• Other emperors let barbarians enlist in the army, this foreign element became the primary means of protection.
• The Huns came from the Far East in the late fourth century threatening Rome's security.
• The Huns prompted Germanic tribes to seek refuge in Roman territory.
• The Visigoths crossed the Danube River and settled in the eastern part of the Roman Empire.
• Following mistreatment by Roman officials, the Visigoths rebelled.
• At the Battle of Adrianople in 378, the Visigoths defeated the Roman army and killed the emperor which was a disaster for Rome.

Augustine of Hippo

• Augustine lived during the empire's decline and barbarian assaults on Rome.
• In 410, barbarian invaders attacked the city of Rome, pagan Romans blamed this on the Christians and their abandonment of the old gods.
• Augustine answered this charge in The City of God where it says human history is the story of two cities representing opposing ways of life.
• The city of man is the home of sinful, unsaved men; the city of God is His church.
• God's purpose in history is to build His city by saving men from sin.
• These two cities exist and will be separated by God at the final judgment.
• The citizens of the city of God will go to eternal glory and bliss with Him.
• Augustine stated that we should see the hand of God directing history for His purpose in every event.

The Fall of Rome

• In 410, under Alaric, the Visigoths plundered Rome and settled in Spain.
• The Franks moved into northern Gaul, and the Angles and Saxons crossed into Britain.
• The Huns, led by Attila, the "scourge of God", invaded Roman territory.
• The Romans, with Germanic help, stopped the Huns.
• The Vandals raided and pillaged Rome again and their name came to mean "a destroyer of property."
• The Western Roman Empire collapsed due to these invasions.
• In 476, the army ended Roman rule by placing a non-Roman on the emperor's throne in the west.