Ch. 12 - Lesson 2 ~ "Rome's Decline"

After the Pax Romana, Rome experienced civil war for about 100 years. The army grew stronger as the government weakened.

Values of duty, courage, and honesty changed; support of education declined; many people stopped paying taxes; food shortages and inflation increased.

Germanic and Persian tribes attacked the weakened empire.

Diocletian, an army general who became an emperor, tried to reform (changes to bring about improvement) Rome, but failed

Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and named it Constantinople.

After Theodosius died, the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western parts.

Germanic tribes invaded Roman lands and took over many areas.

The Western Roman Empire fell when Odoacer, a Germanic general, overthrew the last Roman emperor in A.D. 476 and took control of Rome.

Ancient Roman ideas that influence the United States today include architecture, literature, language, government, religion, and the law.

In the United States, as in ancient Rome, citizens elect their leaders.

Architectural elements from the Romans include Roman arches, domes, and the use of concrete.

The ancient Roman language Latin has influenced the English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian languages.