Roman Empire

Germanic tribes - ID

Germanic tribes such as the Visigoths, Franks, Ostrogoths, Saxons, Angles, and Vandals invaded Rome from AD 200 to AD 500. They crossed the frozen Rhine River in Western Europe in AD 406.

Constantinople - ID

Constantinople, formerly the Greek city Byzantium, became the capital of Rome during the reign of Constantine that began in AD 312.

How did Diocletian try to reverse the decline of Rome?

Diocletian attempted to reverse the decline of Rome with his reforms. He reorganized the government by assigning leaders to different regions while still maintaining power, and he ordered laws that organized it so workers were paid the prices of goods and the salaries. Furthermore, he made workers perform the same job for their whole life to ensure that more products were produced.

Alaric - ID

Alaric was a Visigoth leader that invaded Rome and demolished records and stole money with his fighters in AD 410.

How did Constantine try to reverse the decline of Rome?

Constantine tried to reverse the decline of Rome by making reforms such as ordering rules and laws, forcing the sons of workers to occupy the same position that their parent performed, moving the capital of Rome to the Greek city Byzantium, and constructing many grand buildings in Byzantium (eventually Constantinople).

Inflation - ID

Inflation is quickly increasing prices, which occurs when the value of money decreases. Rome was challenged by inflation during the A.D. 200s.

Odoacer - ID

Odoacer was a Germanic general that seized power from western emperor Romulus Augustus in AD 476.

Vandals - ID

The Vandals were a Germanic tribe that invaded northern Africa and Spain; they invaded Rome in AD 455.

Visigoths - ID

The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe that were allowed to settle in the Eastern Roman Empire after being threatened by another foreign group called the Huns. They revolted against and conquered the Romans in AD 378 at the Battle of Adrianople because they had been treated cruelly by the Romans.

What event usually marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

The event that usually marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire is Germanic military leader Odoacer overthrowing western emperor Romulus Augustus in AD 476.

Alaric - SIG

The significance of Alaric is that he was the first to defeat Rome in 800 years, marking the beginning of the end of Rome.

Constantinople - SIG

The significance of Constantinople is that it was one of Constantine's reforms to try and stop Rome's decline and is where he constructed numerous palaces, a forum, and the Hippodrome, an ampitheater.

Odoacer - SIG

The significance of Odoacer is that his conquest of Romulus Augustus is considered to be the event that ended the Western Roman Empire.

Inflation - SIG

The significance of inflation is that it was one of the major contributing factors of Rome's economic decline; it led to the use of bartering rather than using money.

Germanic tribes - SIG

The significance of the Germanic tribes is that they directly caused the fall of Rome by overthrowing Roman leaders, raiding farms and towns in the west, forcing Rome to give up land, and vandalizing Roman property. The most commonly used date of Rome's fall is AD 476, when Germanic military leader Odoacer overthrew emperor Romulus Augustus.

Vandals - SIG

The significance of the Vandals is that they were one of many Germanic tribes that weakened Rome, contributing to its decline and fall.

Visigoths - SIG

The significance of the Visigoths is that they played a huge role in Rome's defeat as they not only made the Romans give up territory in AD 378, but a Visigoth leader named Alaric invaded and damaged Rome with his forces in AD 410.