Lesson 5: Decline of the Roman Empire

Key Idea

For two centuries, the Pax Romana brought peace and wealth to the Roman Empire. After this period ended in 180 CE, the empire began to weaken from the inside. These internal problems grew slowly over many years.

The government suffered from corruption, as dishonest leaders fought for control. The empire also faced serious money problems. It was very expensive to pay soldiers and defend its vast borders. Trade routes became less safe, which hurt the economy.

Key Idea

After the Pax Romana, Rome entered a chaotic 50-year period called the Imperial Crisis. Roman generals fought for power in constant civil wars. During this time, more than 20 emperors took the throne, and most were assassinated. This constant fighting weakened the empire from within.

To pay their armies, emperors desperately needed money. They began making coins with less silver and more cheap metal. This meant the government could produce more coins, but each one was less valuable.

Key Idea

As the empire faced constant crisis, Emperor Diocletian decided it was too large for one person to rule. He divided the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves, each with its own leadership to make it more manageable. This was a major attempt to restore order.

Following him, Emperor Constantine continued to make big changes. He moved the capital to a new city in the east, named Constantinople. He also made Christianity a legal religion in the empire. These reforms brought temporary stability but also shifted the empire's center of power eastward.

Key Idea

Fierce warriors called the Huns moved from Central Asia into Europe. They pushed many Germanic tribes from their homelands, creating a massive wave of migration toward the Roman Empire.

These displaced tribes sought safety and new land inside Roman territory. Some groups settled peacefully and even joined the Roman army, but others fought their way in, overwhelming the empire's defenses along its vast borders.