Fall of the Classical Empires: The Han and Roman Empires

Key terms, individuals, events ● Wang Mang Essential Question: How and why did Han and Roman Empire decline and collapse? ● Yellow Turban Learning expectation 1: Describe features of internal decay in the Han and Roman Empire Rebellion Learning expectation 2: Identify the role that foreigners had on the decline of the the Han and Roman Empire ● “Barracks emperors” Learning Expectation 3: Compare and contrast factors contributing to the decline and collapse of the Han and ● Diocletian Roman Empire ● Constantine Constantinople “This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of ● ● Germanic peoples: the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and Visigoths even the military spirit evaporated.” Historian Edward Gibbon ● The Huns ● ● ● ● ●

ECONOMIC

MILITARY ● ● ● ● ●

SOCIAL

High taxes High inflation Loss of war loot Decline in manufacturing Decline in agriculture

German invasions High cost of defense Dependence on German troops Loss of soldiers’ loyalty to Rome Military interference in government

● ● ●

Growing divisions between rich and poor Loss of values Loss of patriotism

Causes for the Fall of the Western Roman Empire

POLITICAL ● ● ● ● ●

Ineffective city-state system Division of empire Growing power of the Eastern Empire Corruption and unstable leadership Burden of public service

Factors contributing to the decline/ collapse of the Han and Roman Empires

HAN

ROMAN