Chapter 5, Section 5 - Rome and the Rise of Christianity; Decline and Fall - Guided Reading Activity

The Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, continued to thrive with its center at (blank).

Constantinople

By the mid-third century, the state had to rely on hiring (blank) to fight under Roman commanders.

Germans

In 476, the western emperor, (blank), was deposed by the Germanic head of the army. This is usually taken as the date of the fall of the (blank).

Romulus Augustus; Western Roman Empire

The theories proposed to explain the decline and fall of the Roman Empire included:

Six main theories listed below.

In 410, the (blank) sacked Rome. Another group, the Vandals, poured into southern Spain and Africa. In (blank), they, too, sacked Rome.

Visigoths; 455

Marcus Aurelius, the last of (blank), died in A.D. 180. A period of (blank) and (blank) followed.

five good emperors; conflict/civil war; confusion

C. Lead poisoning from leaden water pipes and cups caused a (blank) decline.

mental

A. Christianity's values weakened Roman (blank) values.

military

D. (blank) wiped out one-tenth of the population.

plague

No (blank) explanation can explain the fall of a great empire. The Roman Empire experienced problems related to acquiring (blank).

single; so much land

E. Rome failed to advance technologically because of (blank).

slavery

B. Traditional Roman (blank) declined as non-Italians gained prominence.

values

After Constantine, the empire continued to be divided into (blank) and (blank) parts.

western; eastern

F. Rome was unable to put together a (blank) political system.

workable