World History presentation for Grade 8 students at Samoset Middle School in Leominster, MA.

1. 8 Reasons Why The Roman
Empire Fell
Samoset Middle School Grade 8
World History

2. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
Over the centuries, historians have identified eight primary reasons that answer
the question: “what contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?”
FIRST
Invasion by Barbarians
Germanic tribes had been probing the edges of the Empire for centuries.
410 Alaric invades Rome
455 Vandals sack Rome
476 Odoacer deposes Emperor Romulus Augustulus

3. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
SECOND
Economic Problems/Overreliance on Slave Labor
Emploding due to crushing taxation, inflation, nobles fleeing urban centers for
countryside and setting up fiefdoms (precursor to Middle Ages).
5th Century loss of North Africa to Vandals and then pirates disrupting trade.
No new territory = no new slaves. Slaves needed for farming and production of
goods.
Commerical and agricultural production declines.

4. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
THIRD
Rise of Eastern Empire
3rd Century Emp. Diocletian divides empire into Western, capital Milan and
Eastern, capital Byzantium (later Constantinople).
Greek speaking in East, Latin continues in West. Prosperity in East, turbulence
and unrest in West. Byzantium fortified. Rome target of barbarians.

5. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
FOURTH
Overexpansion and Military Overspending
Roman Empire’s grandeur was also its downfall.
Unable to communicate quickly or effectively.
2nd Century Emperor Hadrian builds wall in Britain.
Military spending drains civil infrastructure (civil servants and roads).

6. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
FIFTH
Civil Unrest
Civil war.
Praetorian Guards, Emperor’s Personal Bodyguard, assassinates and installs
Emperors at will.
Roman Senate incompetent and corrupt. Fails to temper excesses of Emperors
(e.g.,Commodus).
Civic pride wanes “civis Romanus sum”- trust in government is lost.

7. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
SIXTH
Arrival of Huns and migration of Barbarian tribes
Huns caused “Great Migration” barbarians forced towards Rome’s borders
because Huns rampaging through Northern Europe
Huns a nomadic tribe from near the Caspian Sea (Kazakhstan)
Rome allowed some Visigoths into Rome, but treated them very cruelly
The Goths Revolted; leading to Emperor Valens being killed and Rome being
sacked by Goth King Alaric

8. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
SEVENTH
Christianity and the Loss of “Traditional Values”
Edict of Milan AD 313 makes Christianity legal and the state religion AD
380 and Constantine converts to Christianity
Focus shifted away from the State, “Cult of Rome” to a sole Deity (3 person
Trinity: Creator, Redeemer, Inspiration = Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Pope, Patriarch of Rome, Successor to Peter, head of Church and other
religious leaders take increased role in politics

9. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
EIGHTH
Weakening of the Roman Legions
Unable to recruit sufficient Roman soldiers.
Use of mercenaries, paid professional soldiers with no loyalty to Rome.
Their power hungry officers turned the soldiers against their Roman masters
with disasterous results...for Rome.

10. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
Remember, AD 476 marks the end of the Western Roman Empire.
However, there was a “Second Rome” located in the East. It was the capital of
the Eastern Roman Empire - the City of Constantine...known as Constantinople.
Its glory will continue to glow long after Rome. This is the story of Byzantium. It will
last as a worthy successor until it will fall in 1453. Stay tuned.

11. 8 Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell
Sources:
Joshua J. Mark. “Huns,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 14, 2014. http://www.ancient.eu
/Huns/.
Donald L. Wasson. “Fall of the Roman Empire,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 16, 2015.
http://www.ancient.eu /article/835/.
Evan Andrews. “8 Reasons Why Rome Fell,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified January 14, 2014.
http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell
Rene M. Lafayette. Class notes. Unpublished.