Grade 6 The Eastern Hemisphere Unit 5 The Mediterranean World Lesson 1 You Decide What Factors Led to the “Fall” of the Roman Empire DOCUMENT 1 DISEASE TAKES ITS TOLL ON THE ROMAN EMPIRE Although many disastrous epidemics probably occurred throughout [early history], few sources detailing … early plagues have survived. Unfortunately, few accounts exist; and because of this, we don’t know exactly how or where these epidemics originated…. One such disease, known as the Antonine plague, occurred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE). It was brought back by soldiers returning from Seleucia (an ancient Greek city on the Mediterranean coast of Pamphylia, in Anatolia, Turkey) and before it abated (was brought under control), it had affected Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. The plague destroyed as much as one-third of the population in some areas, and decimated (destroyed) the Roman army. In 180 CE, Marcus Aurelius caught some type of infection and died in his army camp. There has been some speculation (guessing) that this infection was the plague. Another plague occurred during the reigns of Decius (249-251 CE) and Gallus (251-253 CE). This pestilence (epidemic) broke out in Egypt in 251 CE, and from there, infected the entire empire. Its mortality rate severely depleted the ranks of the army, and caused massive labor shortages. The plague was still raging in 270 CE, when it caused the death of the emperor Claudius Gothicus (268-270 CE). Adapted from http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1996-7/Smith.html 1. What impact did the outbreak of plagues have on the Roman population? 2. Why were Roman soldiers so badly affected by the plague? 3. How did these plagues contribute to economic decline in the Roman Empire? Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Page 1 Revised March 2015 Grade 6 The Eastern Hemisphere Unit 5 The Mediterranean World Lesson 1 You Decide What Factors Led to the “Fall” of the Roman Empire DOCUMENT 2 ROMAN LEADERSHIP TAKES A HIT Succession of Roman Emperors from 235 – 285 CE http://lukensocialstudies.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/8/2/24827890/303702_orig.png *an assassination is the murder of a political leader 1. This chart shows 50 years of Roman Rulers. Within that time, how many rulers were there? _______________________________________________________ 2. What was the most frequent reason for a ruler’s death? _______________________________________________________ 3. What do you think these statistics infer about leadership in Ancient Rome? _______________________________________________________ Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Page 2 Revised March 2015 Grade 6 The Eastern Hemisphere Unit 5 The Mediterranean World Lesson 1 You Decide What Factors Led to the “Fall” of the Roman Empire DOCUMENT 3 ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE …Part of the money went into…maintaining the army and of the large numbers of administrators required by a centralized government… the expense led to the strangling taxation…Ambitious businessmen were disgusted…tenants fled from their farms and businessmen and workmen from their occupations. Private enterprise was crushed and the state was forced to take over many kinds of business to keep the machine (government) running. People learned to expect something for nothing. The old Roman virtues of self- reliance and initiative (ambition) were lost in that part of the population on relief [welfare]… The central government undertook such a far-reaching responsibility in affairs that the fiber (personal will) of the citizens weakened…. The expenses of running the Empire continued to increase. As taxes failed to produce the needed revenue (income), the government resorted to devaluation (decreasing the value) of the currency…Prices shot up…[a depressed mood] settled over the population. People felt they were being swept downward by forces beyond their power to control. Henry Haskell, The New Deal in Old Rome 1947 1. Why did the government have such large expenses? 2. What was the effect of high taxation on the people? 3. What effect did the establishment of a governmental welfare system have on the people? Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Page 3 Revised March 2015 Grade 6 The Eastern Hemisphere Unit 5 The Mediterranean World Lesson 1 You Decide What Factors Led to the “Fall” of the Roman Empire DOCUMENT 4 NATURAL DISASTER STRIKES WITHIN THE EMPIRE In the second year of the reign of Valens (366 CE) … the Roman World was shaken by a violent and destructive earthquake… The shores of the Mediterranean were left dry by the sudden retreat of the sea.. but the tide soon returned with the weight of an immense [flood] which was severely felt on the coasts of Sicily… Greece, and Egypt... fifty thousand persons had lost their lives in the flood [in the city of Alexandria alone…[This] calamity (disaster)… astonished and terrified the subjects of Rome.. and their fearful vanity was disposed to [see a connection] between the symptoms of a declining empire and a sinking world. Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1776 -1788 1. What natural disaster struck the Roman Empire in 366 CE? 2. What was the impact of this disaster on the Roman population? 3. How could this disaster have contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire? Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Page 4 Revised March 2015 Grade 6 The Eastern Hemisphere Unit 5 The Mediterranean World Lesson 1 You Decide What Factors Led to the “Fall” of the Roman Empire DOCUMENT 5 CHANGE OF ATTITUUDE WITHIN THE ROMAN MILITARY [Before the year 400 CE] foot soldiers wore breastplates and helmets. But when, because of negligence and laziness, parade ground drills were abandoned, the customary armor began to seem heavy since the soldiers rarely ever wore it. Therefore, they first asked the emperor to set aside the breastplates… and then the helmets. So our soldiers fought the Goths without any protection for chest and head and were often beaten by archers. Although there were many disasters, which led to the loss of great cities, no one tried to restore breastplates and helmets to the infantry. Thus it happens that troops in battle, exposed to wound because they have no armor think about running and not about fighting. An excerpt from the ancient book Concerning Military Matters by the Roman Historian Vegetius, c. 450 CE 1. According to Vegetius, what led to changes in the Roman military armor and training techniques? 2. How did these changes contribute to the decline of the Roman Empire? Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Page 5 Revised March 2015 .