The fall of the Roman Empire

Today in class Mr. Schick gave us a sheet that we had to define some things and also answer questions
Inflation- a huge increase in prices

1. Diocletian- a strong willed army leader and son of a slave, became the new emperor . He tried to restore order in the empire and increase its strength
2. Constantine- he was a war commander. He marched to the Tiber River to fight his cheif rival. He was a strong Christian 
3. Eastern Empire- Constantine won the eastern empire for Rome. It was more successful than any other empire. Byzantium was located in the eastern part. 
4. Western Empire- Latin speaking country 
5. Constantinople- The capital of the eastern empire; was named after Constantine 
6. Huns: a nomadic people from central Asia; they were feared
7. Attila: new leader of the Huns; wanted to conquer the entire empire and failed/withdrew
8. Leo I: First truly powerful pope of Rome; journeyed to Attila's camp causing him to withdraw his forces.

Questions'

• What economic problems did the empire face in the third century? 

- All three of their prosperities dried up. Trade was disrupted by barbarian raids and by bands of pirates on Mediterranean sea lanes. Rome's gold and silver were drained away to buy luxuries from China, India, and Arabia. They couldn't pay their expenses; coins lost 98% silver and prices were sky high.

• By the third century, how had Rome's army changed since the days of the republic? 

- Soldiers now fought strictly for money, not for patriotism. To attract recruits into the army, government promised higher pay. Empires began to recruit barbarians who accepted lower pay but not loyal.

• (a)What important religious change did Constantine bring about in the empire?

- AD 313, he announced an end to the persecution of Christians. He granted "both to the Christians and to all men freedom to follow the religion that they choose." Christianity become a religion approved by emperor because of Milan.

• (b) What political change did he bring about?

Constantine won control of the eastern as well as the western empire. In AD 330, he took the momentous step of moving the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium in what is now Turkey.

• (a) Why did Germanic tribes invade the empire in the 400's? 

- They were fleeing the Huns; the Huns kept pushing westward and they felt they needed to move westward as well.

• (b) Why was the empire unable to drive the invaders out?

- They couldn't get a strong enough army. They couldn't muster even a medium-sized army to stop the barbarians. 

• (a) List three reasons why Diocletian should be considered a successful empire. 

1. He restored order in the empire & increased its strength
2. Ranked among the greatest emperors.
3. Divided the empire
(b) List three reasons why he might be considered a failure
1. Not all the reforms were totally successful.
2. Wages for new troops added to the already high taxes
3. Price controls failed