In this Grade 7 lesson from IMPACT California Social Studies, Chapter 1, students examine the factors that led to the collapse of the Roman Empire, including economic pressures like inflation, political corruption, and the geographic limits of Roman expansion. Students analyze primary sources such as Diocletian's Price Edict of 301 C.E. and explore how the Pax Romana shaped Rome's multicultural society before its eventual decline.
Section 1
The Pax Romana Crumbles
For two centuries, the Roman Empire experienced the Pax Romana, a long period of peace and prosperity. During this time, the empire was stable, wealthy, and expanded to its greatest size.
After the Pax Romana ended around 180 C.E., this stability crumbled. The empire fell into a century of chaos and violence. Weak leaders fought each other for power in a series of destructive civil wars.
Section 2
Internal Causes for the Fall of the Western Roman Empire
By the 400s C.E., the mighty Roman Empire was rotting from the inside. A long line of weak and corrupt emperors made the government unstable. The empire also faced severe money problems, and its society was filled with unrest.
This internal weakness made it difficult to defend the empire’s vast frontiers from constant attack. Eventually, the combination of problems became too great. In 476 C.E., the last western emperor was overthrown, leading to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire into many smaller kingdoms.
Section 3
Emperors Reform the Roman Empire
As the empire weakened, Emperor Diocletian took strong measures to restore order. He set price controls to fight economic problems. To make the vast territory easier to govern, he divided the empire into an eastern and a western part, with a co-emperor for each.
Later, Emperor Constantine continued many of Diocletian's reforms. In 330 C.E., he moved the capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. This shift in power to the east was a major turning point for the empire.
Section 4
Germanic Tribes Pressure the Empire
While the empire struggled with internal problems, new groups appeared on its borders. These were Germanic tribes, who were moving south, partly to escape the advancing Huns from Central Asia.
These groups increasingly crossed into Roman territory. As Rome’s military weakened, many tribes raided cities and farms. In 410 C.E., the Visigoths captured and looted the city of Rome, a major shock to the empire.
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Section 1
The Pax Romana Crumbles
For two centuries, the Roman Empire experienced the Pax Romana, a long period of peace and prosperity. During this time, the empire was stable, wealthy, and expanded to its greatest size.
After the Pax Romana ended around 180 C.E., this stability crumbled. The empire fell into a century of chaos and violence. Weak leaders fought each other for power in a series of destructive civil wars.
Section 2
Internal Causes for the Fall of the Western Roman Empire
By the 400s C.E., the mighty Roman Empire was rotting from the inside. A long line of weak and corrupt emperors made the government unstable. The empire also faced severe money problems, and its society was filled with unrest.
This internal weakness made it difficult to defend the empire’s vast frontiers from constant attack. Eventually, the combination of problems became too great. In 476 C.E., the last western emperor was overthrown, leading to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire into many smaller kingdoms.
Section 3
Emperors Reform the Roman Empire
As the empire weakened, Emperor Diocletian took strong measures to restore order. He set price controls to fight economic problems. To make the vast territory easier to govern, he divided the empire into an eastern and a western part, with a co-emperor for each.
Later, Emperor Constantine continued many of Diocletian's reforms. In 330 C.E., he moved the capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. This shift in power to the east was a major turning point for the empire.
Section 4
Germanic Tribes Pressure the Empire
While the empire struggled with internal problems, new groups appeared on its borders. These were Germanic tribes, who were moving south, partly to escape the advancing Huns from Central Asia.
These groups increasingly crossed into Roman territory. As Rome’s military weakened, many tribes raided cities and farms. In 410 C.E., the Visigoths captured and looted the city of Rome, a major shock to the empire.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter