Makayla,+Andrew,+Kris

The Decline of Rome

During the Pax Romana from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180, the Roman Empire was not the only power in its region of the world. On Rome's eastern border, a new Persian Empire was beginning to develop and grow. North of Rome, different groups were beginning to leave the heavily forested lands of northern Europe. After a while some of these people began moving toward the lands within Rome's borders. Like the hunters of China's northern steppes, Europe's northern peoples began raiding wealthy, or rich, lands to their south. Invasions from the north would eventually bring changes to the Roman Empire. The Pax Romana ended while new groups moved through the lands of the empire. Many Romans tried to protect themselves and their property. As fear spread, a Roman emperor made a decision that would have an effect on the Roman Empire.



The Pax Romana was not a completely peaceful time in Rome’s history. Revolts and border wars flared up often, but the Roman army always managed to regain control. The Pax Romana ended when large armies from northern Europe began to invade the empire in the late A.D. 100s. The northern invaders were German speaking peoples. They were attacking the Roman Empire that had become too big to control. There were more difficulties with communicating and collecting taxes. The army weakened, and the empire became poorer.



The northern raids destroyed cities and farmlands. They made the roads and coasts of the empire unsafe. Thieves held up travelers, and pirates hijacked ships. Trade suffered. As time passed, the raids caused life in the empire to change in every way. Many cities in the western empire isolated themselves behind thick new walls. In the countryside, rich landowners stayed in their well-protected villas. In the west, where most invasions took place, the Roman Empire was rapidly falling apart.



In A.D. 284 Diocletian became emperor. Like other emperors who ruled during the war, Diocletian was a powerful general. He realized that the empire was too big to be ruled by one man, and divided the empire into two parts. There was the east, and then there was the west. Three assistants took charge of events in the troubled western empire. Diocletian became leader of the eastern part of the empire. This area included the rich cities Egypt, Greece, and Palestine. By choosing to oversee the eastern empire, Diocletian created a major turning point in Roman history. For the first time in Roman history, Rome was no longer the most important city in the empire. Power was shifting from west to east.



Information above is from the book World Adventures In Time And Place.

Several Etruscan princes went to Rome and conquered the area near the Tiber River. Tarquinius Priscus was the first Etruscan king to rule Rome. Priscus improved the city forums, drained the city marshes, founded a temple to Jupiter, and carried on many wars with neighboring cities. The second Etruscan king was Serivus Tullius. Tullius made the walls around the seven hills, and he enlarged the city. He also made a treaty with the Latin cities that acknowledged Rome as the head of Latium. The last of the Etruscan kings was Tarquinius Superbus, he was a tyrant who scorned religion and opposed the people/citizens of Rome. As tradition says Superbus was persuaded to buy the famous Sibylline Books, which lead as the Roman guide in times of trouble. Under the rule of the Etruscans the Romans got many fantastic Roman buildings, and the Roman importance and power increased too.

The Plebeians went on a general strike, which frightened the Patricians into letting the people who were in jail for debt get out and canceled all the debts. The Plebeians were also granted the right to be represented by the officials called tribunes. They also granted that 2 plebeians the right to be consuls. The Roman Senate of the republican period is called the most ‘distinguished and important political body’. The comitia tribute which one man’s vote counted as much as another, this developed from the consul of plebes.

Information above from [|here]

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