irections: For each reason for the end of the Roman Empire, determine whether you think it is Political, Military, Economic, or Social in the box to the left. Then, complete the questions at the end.
Category
Reason
Bad emperors after Marcus Aurelius (180 C.E.)
Creative energy of Rome was destroyed because the empire was so unified (everyone doing the same thing)
Army made smaller to the point that it could not hold off Barbarian invasions
Christianity blamed for ruining the civic and moral spirit of Rome
Food shortages because of climate changes
Most land owned by a few rich people (patricians) after the Punic Wars (the latifundia, when wealthy Romans seized smaller farms and formed large farms under one owner)
Rome needed goods from its provinces (controlled lands)
instead of being self-sufficient
Rome did not produce anything to trade to other areas of the world
The cities declined because they were more concerned
with controlling far off lands than making goods
Civil wars, general instability and pirates after 180 C.E.
Government spent more money than it had leading to inflation
Wealthy Senators didn’t pay taxes
High taxes on the urban middle class
Mercenary armies not very loyal to Rome
Roman citizens avoiding military service
Bribery, corruption and too much bureaucracy (government)
Deaths because of warfare, famine, and disease
Use of slave labor led to revolts
Government capital moved from Rome to Constantinople
Widening gap between the rich patricians and poor plebeians
Bad emperors after Marcus Aurelius (180 C.E.) - Political
Creative energy of Rome was destroyed because the empire was so unified (everyone doing the same thing) - Social
Army made smaller to the point that it could not hold off Barbarian invasions - Military
Christianity blamed for ruining the civic and moral spirit of Rome - Social
Food shortages because of climate changes - Economic
Most land owned by a few rich people (patricians) after the Punic Wars (the latifundia, when wealthy Romans seized smaller farms and formed large farms under one owner) - Economic
Rome needed goods from its provinces (controlled lands) instead of being self-sufficient - Economic
Rome did not produce anything to trade to other areas of the world - Economic
The cities declined because they were more concerned with controlling far off lands than making goods - Political
Civil wars, general instability and pirates after 180 C.E. - Political
Government spent more money than it had leading to inflation - Economic
Wealthy Senators didn’t pay taxes - Political
High taxes on the urban middle class - Economic
Mercenary armies not very loyal to Rome - Military
Roman citizens avoiding military service - Military
Bribery, corruption and too much bureaucracy (government) - Political
Deaths because of warfare, famine, and disease - Military
Use of slave labor led to revolts - Social
Government capital moved from Rome to Constantinople - Political
Widening gap between the rich patricians and poor plebeians - Social