The Fall of Rome
In 476 BC the great Empire of Western Rome came to an end.
Germanic barbarian, Odoacer, took control, bacame the king of Italy and forced Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, to give up his crown.
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Four reasons for the fall of Western Rome
- Barbarian invasions on the Western Empire and the city of Rome led to the downfall of the Western Empire. Goths, Vandals and Visgoths attacked for years and caused a string of military loses that the Western Empire could not recover from.
- The rise of the Eastern Empire led to the downfall of the Western Empire because they fought over resources and military support. The Eastern Empire grew in wealth but the Western Empire it got in to a lot of debt. The Eastern Empire protected the main city of Constantinople so barbarians attacked the Western Empire and Rome instead.
- The Roman Empire made itself too big to maintain and manage its size. The army could not protect such a big territory from outside attacks. It was hard to communicate and govern such a big land.
- Christianity over came Rome with its preaching of peace and love, which also lead to the loss of young blood in the army. The people's values changed from traditional Roman values. Priests and popes also became more active in government. The people no longer looked at the Emperor as a god.
The Two Roman Empires
The Rise of Christianity
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Constantine
Constantine became emperor in 306 and ruled for 30 years. He made the Greek city Byzantium the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople. Under Constantine's rule, the Empire become wealthy and powerful. Constantine ended the persecution of Christians in Rome and he converted to Christianity. He was the first Christian Roman Emperor.
Constantine became emperor in 306 and ruled for 30 years. He made the Greek city Byzantium the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople. Under Constantine's rule, the Empire become wealthy and powerful. Constantine ended the persecution of Christians in Rome and he converted to Christianity. He was the first Christian Roman Emperor.
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Theodosius
Theodosius was the last emperor to rule the Empire before its final split into East and West Empires. He ruled from 378 until 395. He solved the problems with the barbarians by allowing them to settle on Roman land and giving them leadership positions. His biggest impact on Rome was that he used his power as emperor to officially enforce Orthodox Christianity in the Empire and put his power beneath that of the church. He declared Christianity the official religion on the Roman Empire.
Theodosius was the last emperor to rule the Empire before its final split into East and West Empires. He ruled from 378 until 395. He solved the problems with the barbarians by allowing them to settle on Roman land and giving them leadership positions. His biggest impact on Rome was that he used his power as emperor to officially enforce Orthodox Christianity in the Empire and put his power beneath that of the church. He declared Christianity the official religion on the Roman Empire.