ROMAN EMPIRE IN DECLINE
WEAKNESS IN THE EMPIRE
The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius died in 180 B.C. After, a series of problems arose that were difficult to solve.
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ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
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Empire had trouble feeding its people.
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Romans did not develop new farming technology
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Farm land wore out causing food shortages
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Empire was running low on money
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People didn’t pay their high taxes
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No tax money meant that the government could not pay the army
MILITARY PROBLEMS
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Rome was always at war
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Rome hired mercenaries (soldiers for hire) to help with constant warfare.
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Mercenaries had no loyalty to the empire, only to whoever paid them
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Mercenaries were not as disciplined as Roman soldiers
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This resulted in weakened defenses along the borders of the empire
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS
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The size of the empire made it difficult to control
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Many Roman government officials were corrupt
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Many chose to get rich rather than serve the empire
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Education cost increased
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News spreading throughout the empire was difficult to achieve
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People became less informed of civic matters/problems throughout the empire
DIOCLETIAN DIVIDES THE EMPIRE
Between A.D 235-284, Rome had 20 emperors. With so many emperors, Roman people had little sense of rule.
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DIOCLETIAN RESTORES ORDER
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Emperor Diocletian comes to power in A.D., 284
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He permanently placed troops at empire’s borders.
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He created economic changes
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Kept prices low on goods such as bread
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This helped the poor
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Diocletian did not meet with the Roman Senate
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Diocletian issued laws on his own and was an absolute ruler (had total power)
SPLITTING THE EMPIRE
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In A.D. 285 Diocletian split the empire into two parts (East and West)
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Diocletian took the eastern portion because of its greater wealth, trade, cities.
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Diocletian appointed Maximian to rule the Western Empire.
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The two men ruled for the next 20 years