FALL OF ROMAN EMPIRE NOTES
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The fall refers to the fall of the Western Roman Empire
WEALTHY EAST
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Eastern Empire was much stronger than the Western Empire
o Constantinople (east capital)
o East had more wealth
o East cities were larger and better defended
o Black sea was a natural barrier against invaders
WEAKER WEST
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Cities were smaller and poorer
o Cities were located farther away from trade routes
o Cities were more exposed to attack from invaders
o Defenses were widely scattered
 Soldiers were poorly paid
INVADERS RAID CITIES
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Foreign invaders went after goods or people to sell as slaves
People began leaving cities
Less populated cities were more open to attack
INVADING PEOPLES
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Nomads (people who move from place to place) took advantage of weaknesses and attacked
Roman towns/cities
GERMANIC PEOPLES
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People from territories north of Roman empire
All spoke languages that were a part of the same family of languages
Romans looked down upon them and thought of Germanic peoples as barbarians
o Barbarian: someone who was primitive or uncivilized
o Romans thought of anyone living outside the Empire as barbarians
Germanic people had a complex culture
o Skilled metalworkers
o Elected assemblies
o Military organizations
o Very loyal people
GERMANIC MIGRATIONS
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As Rome declined, well armed Germanic nomads became a threat to the empire
People living along Roman borders were being driven out by nomadic invaders
Between A.D 370-500, nomads from central Asia (The Huns) moved into Germanic territories
Germanic people sought protection from the Roman empire
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Romans treated these people very poorly
FALL OF ROME
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Rome gradually declined for multiple reasons
o Government corruption
o Breakdown of society
o Barbarian invasions
INVADERS GAIN GROUND
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A.D 410, Germanic Goths attack and plunder the city of Rome
o Plunder: Loot/take things by force
This was the first time in centuries that invaders entered Rome
Rome was left seriously weakened
Germanic invaders attacked Roman territories in France, Spain, and North Africa
Roman empire was not strong enough to drive invaders out
A.D 445, Attila the Hun attacked the Roman empire
AFTERMATH OF ROME’S FALL
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A.D 476, the last Roman emperor was removed from power
o This date marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire
o Life changed in Western Europe
 Roads and public structures fell into despair
 Trade declined
 Germanic kingdoms claimed Roman land
 Roman Catholic Church became a powerful force
The Eastern Empire would continue for the next 1,000 years