C-Notes S.S. The Western Empire Collapses P.16-20

Corruption

Corruption involves the use of a position of trust for dishonest gain.

Essential Question

How did internal weaknesses and external threats lead to the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Explain how the four major internal weaknesses may have contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

1. Internal Weakness -Citizenship -Expanded citizenship to people outside of Rome. -Did not solve growing economic problems. -Economic ($$) -Wars destroyed farms and hurt trade. -Higher taxes and corruption. -Social Problems -Decline in city population -Gap between rich and poor. -Slavery -Military -Armies were made of foreign soldiers. -Less effective because they were not loyal.

Explain the role that the barbarians and Germanic tribes played in the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

2. External Threats -The Huns -Barbarians from Central Asia. -Fierce horsemen. -Attacked others causing Germanic tribes to fill into the Empire. -Rome failed to stop them. -Attila was a cruel warrior and the leader of the Huns. They terrorized borders of Rome. -Germanic tribes settled down. -Franks and Bulgarians-Gaul. -Visigoth-Spanish -Ostrogoth-Italian

Colvis

A Frankish king that destroyed Roman and Visigoth armies for a huge portion of France.

Citizenship

A member in a political community that brings both rights and responsibilities.

Summary

Historians believe that there were both internal and external issues that lead to the fall of Rome. The internal weaknesses consisted of citizenship, economic, social, and military problems. The major external threats included being attacked from neighboring areas. The most vicious were known as the Huns.

What territory did king Clovis and the Franks rule?

King Clovis and the Franks ruled a large portion of France.

Did expanding citizenship help Rome?

No, the leaders tried to gain more loyalty by expanding citizenship, but it did not solve the growing economic problems.

What was the worst defeat Rome had?

Rome's worst defeat happened when the Romans were trying to keep Visigoths out of the Greek city of Adrianople. Nearly 40,000 Romans were killed.

Autonomous

Self-governing.

What did some corrupt tax collectors do?

Some of the tax collectors increased the amount a person would have to pay, and kept the extra for themselves.

What types of Germanic people tried to get to inland Rome?

The Frank, Burgundian, Visigoth, and Ostrogoth tribes tried to get into the center of Rome.

Why did the German mercenaries weaken Rome's army?

The German mercenaries did not trust the Roman leaders, so they did not follow orders, and would not risk their own lives for Rome.

Why did the Germanic tribes go settle into Rome?

The Germanic tribes settled into Rome because they were also being attack by the Huns. The Germanic people thought that going further inland would decrease the chance of them being attacked by the Huns.

What were the estates that rich people called?

The estates were called latifundias.

Who was the Franks' leader?

The leader of the Frankish people was Clovis.

Who was the leader of the Huns?

The leader of the Huns was a man named Attila. He died in 453 A.D.

Emphasize

To show that something is important.

Participate

To take part in an activity or event.

Would Rome have recovered without being attacked by barbarians?

Yes