The Fall of the Roman Empire

Roman Empire

• Constantine is credited with ending 100 years of civil war and expanding the boundaries of the Roman Empire.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

• The western half of the Roman Empire fell by the year 500 CE due to various causes.

Economic Suffering

• During the late empire, Rome's citizens suffered economically due to high taxes, inflation, and a decline in trade.

Social Problems

• One of the social problems that plagued the Roman Empire during its decline was slavery, which led to a shortage of workers and a decline in morals.

Succession of Roman Rulers

• The Praetorian Guard often chose the new ruler of Rome after the death of an emperor.

Movement of the Capital

• The emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople.

Eastern Roman Empire

• The eastern half of the Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, continued for another 1,000 years after the fall of the western half.

Emergence of the Byzantine Empire

• The empire that emerged in the east after the fall of the western Roman Empire was known as the Byzantine Empire.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

• After the last emperor was driven from his throne, the western half of the Roman Empire was eventually overrun by barbarian tribes and divided into smaller kingdoms.

Weakness of the Roman Empire's Frontiers

• One of the problems that weakened the Roman Empire's frontiers was the constant barbarian invasions.