Assignment
Historians have postulated several different dates for the "fall" of the Roman Empire. Discuss each of the major events covered in the class lectures which historians see as signaling the possible "fall" of the Roman Empire (make sure to include WHY these were possible falls). Which do you see as the true "fall of the Roman Empire" and why?
My Notes:
1st possible fall- Diocletian (284-305 CE) created the rule of 4, a tetrarchy. There were 4 emperors(Augustus) each with 1/4th of Rome to control. Each had a Caesar who would be next emperor. Once became emperor they would choose next Caesar. Problem was family members were appointed as new Caesars and Rome went into civil war.
2nd possible fall- Emperor Constantine built new capitol of Rome, Constantinople. Some say this was the fall because the city Rome was the heart of the Roman empire.
3rd possible fall-Theodosius the Great declared Christianity official/only religion of Rome in 380CE. He closed temples and extinguished the eternal flame. Seen as fall because Christianity had a different focus. Christianity focused on the second coming while Rome had always focused on the preservation of Rome.
4th possible fall-Some say the fall was in 410 CE when the Visigoths attacked and sacked the city Rome. They took everything of value and moved North to France and Spain.
5th possible fall-Vandals sack Rome in 455 CE. Rome had just paid off Attila the Hun 4 years prior. When Vandals sacked Rome they didn't find much of value so they started taking all metal they could find. Brackets, statues even lead plumbing pipes. Rome was utterly destroyed. (the word Vandalism came from this)
6th possible fall-in 1204 CE Crusaders, heading to fight the Muslims, ended up taking over Constantinople and started the Latin Kingdom.
7th possible fall (most widely accepted)- 60 years after the Crusaders started the Latin Kingdom members from the last emperor/royal family returned to Constantinople and took back the city. They reigned for almost 200 more years until in 1453 CE Ottomans managed to breach the 1100 year old wall with gunpowder. This breach allowed Muslims to enter and take over.