Classroom Copy: Do not write on this packet
What Were the Primary Reasons for the “Fall” of Rome? (Source: DBQ)
The Destruction of Empire, painted by Thomas Cole in 1836.
From about 50 B.C. until 200 A.D., the Roman Empire was the superpower of the
Mediterranean world. During that time, the empire’s wealth, territory, and international
status grew and grew. Even as the empire prospered, it was slowly starting to fall apart.
Some of its problems were internal--coming from within Rome itself--others were
external.
There is a general agreement among historians that the 1900s was America’s
century. During this 100 year period, the United States emerged as the world leader in
a number of critical areas--politics, economics, military power, human, and civil rights.
Now, in the 21st century, observers wonder if America is losing its edge.
Here is a short list of seven troubles facing the United States. Identify the three
troubles you believe are most capable of causing America’s decline: A. America is
becoming an unhealthy, overweight couch-potato culture. Too much sit and click. Too
much change in the kinds of foods people eat. B. Political squabbling among
politicians, senators, congress, mayors, etc. C. Terrorism is a real threat. D.
Economic, money--financial, troubles for many people. Some caused by actions
outside their control and some economic troubles caused by themselves. E. Growing
national debt in government and families...a “buy now, let our children pay later”
mindset. F. Softer parenting style--a change in the way parents treat their children. G.
Moral and cultural decline--music, pop culture, materialism, and declining work ethic.
*Exercise: On a piece of notebook paper list three primary troubles mentioned
above in the United States. Put them in order of importance, with the first one
being the most significant challenge.
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Barbarians and Vandals: Pax
Romana--Latin for "Roman peace"--was
the long period of relative peace and
minimal expansion by military force
experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st
and 2nd centuries AD. Since it was
established by Caesar Augustus it is
sometimes called Pax Augusta. Its span was
about 207 years--27 BC to 180 AD. Rome
embraced the barbarians, a term covering a
variety and changing group of outsiders,
using them as suppliers of tax revenue and
bodies for the military, even promoting them
to positions of power, yet Rome also lost
territory and revenue to them, especially in
northern Africa, which Rome lost to the Vandals at the time of St. Augustine (November 13, 354 August 28, 430). The sack of Rome during the 5th century, 455 A.D., was the second of three sacks
of Rome; it was conducted by the Vandals, who were then at war with the usurping Western Roman
Emperor Petronius Maximus. This Sack of Rome is held by some historians to mark the "end of the
Roman Empire".
(wikipedia.org)
Decay: One can spot decay in many areas, going back to the crises of the Republic under the
Gracchi (Gra-"key"), Sulla and Marius, yet in the imperial period and in the military, it meant men
were no longer trained right and the invincible Roman army was no longer, and there was corruption
throughout. Those morals and values that kept together the Roman legions and thus the empire could
not be maintained towards the end of the empire. Crimes of violence made the streets of the larger
cities unsafe. Emperors like Nero and Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish
parties where guests ate and drank until they became ill. The love of “bread and circuses”-entertainment and sports--became a large distraction. The country seemed to have reached its goals
and it was easy to get lazy. Life was getting soft, there was a huge love of fun and luxury, and a
decline in the quality of literature and parenting.
Economic: Economic factors are cited as a major cause of the fall of Rome. Some of the
major factors, like inflation, are discussed elsewhere. There were also lesser problems with the
economy of Rome that combined together to escalate financial stress. These include: Poor
management, The dole--bread and circuses--people were more interested in fun and sports, and
hoarding.
Government: Rome began as a sleepy settlement in 750 B.C. In 133 BC, Rome was a
republic--a government in which citizens elected representatives to rule on their behalf. Little more
than a hundred years later it was governed by an emperor. This imperial system has become, for us, a
by-word for dictatorship, autocracy and the arbitrary exercise of power. The two protagonists were
Gnaeus (N EE - oo s) Pompeius (Pomp ee us) Magnus--'Pompey the Great', as he was called, after
Alexander the Great--and Julius Caesar. Originally allies, they became bitter enemies. Both had
conquered vast tracts of territory: Pompey in what is now Turkey, Caesar in France. By the end
of 48 BC, Pompey was dead--beheaded as he tried to land in Egypt--and Caesar was left - to all
intents and purposes - as the first emperor of Rome. After the murder of Caesar Augustus--AKA
Gaius (Gah-uh-s) Octavius or Julius Caesar Octavianus became the first Roman emperor mainly
because he had been adopted by Julius Caesar. Caesar is often referred to as Augustus' uncle.
(bbc.co.uk)
(Source: DBQ)
Classroom Copy: Do not write on this packet
Classroom Copy: Do not write on this packet
Establishing the Context: Exercise: On your notebook paper answer the following
questions. Use complete sentences to answer, you may do so by restating the
questions.
1. How many years passed between Rome’s early days as a sleepy settlement and its
invasion in the 5th century A.D.?
2. What was the Pax Romana?
3. In what way did the form of Roman government change around the time of Julius
Caesar?
4. Beginning in the 3rd century, Rome was developing a “soft belly”. What does that
mean?
5. Define: a. republic, b. Pax Romana, c. dictatorship, d. sack of Rome.
Understanding the Question: On your notebook paper answer the following questions.
Use complete sentences to answer, you may do so by restating the questions.
6. What is the analytical question asked by this Mini-Q? (See top of the front page.)
7. What terms/words in that question need to be defined or explained if you were write
an essay about it?
8. Rewrite that question in your own words. (Think of another way to ask the same
thing.)
9. Pre-Bucketing: On your notebook paper draw or trace the five buckets. Label the
buckets with five reasons for the “fall” of Rome. For example, you may label one of the
buckets “Military Weakness”. Do not write on the buckets below, create your own.
Mr. Bluma