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Unit 2: the Fall of Rome The Artios Home Companion Series Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Teacher Overview THERE IS an old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It also didn’t fall in a day. The fall of Rome came about over a long period of time, due to many different circumstances. A failing economy, barbarian invasions, a military stretched too thin, and corruption that ran rampant were all contributing factors to its destruction. This unit will cover the invasion of three different barbarian tribes: The Ostrogoths (East Goths), the Visigoths (West Goths), and the Vandals. Reading and Assignments In this unit, students will: Complete three lessons in which they will learn about the Barbarian invasion, the rise of the Franks, and the rule of the Barbarians, journaling and answering discussion questions as they read. Define vocabulary words. Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Leading Ideas An individual’s character will be reflected in his leadership. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. — Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) There is power in the spoken word to do evil or to do good. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. — Matthew 12:34 Clovis I, by François-Louis Dejuinne Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Page 27 Vocabulary Key People, Places, and Events Lesson 1: Lesson 2: Attila the Hun Theoderic bulwark augment The Battle of the Nations Leo the Great tyranny Arius Clovis Lesson 3: Leo the Great Clotilda none Romulus Augustulus Gaiseric the Goth Attila and His Hordes Overrun Italy and the Arts, by Eugène Delacroix Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Page 28 L e s s o n O n e H i s t ory Overview and Assignments The Barbarian Invasion ONCE THE Roman Empire was split into two separate kingdoms, they both became weaker rather than stronger. When invading barbarians crossed the borders, the Eastern Empire was still able to turn them back, but in the West the barbarians found they were able to conquer the land and take possession of its wealth. Routes taken by barbarian invaders, 5th century B.C. Reading and Assignments Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: The Barbarians Invade the Roman Empire. Have a map of the Roman Empire for this time period at your side for reference during your reading. Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Page 29 Narrate about today’s reading using the appropriate notebook page. Be sure to answer the discussion questions and include key people, events, and dates within the narration. Define each vocabulary word in the context of the reading and put the word and its definition in the vocabulary section of your history notebook. Be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Vocabulary Key People, Places, and Events bulwark Attila the Hun Theoderic tyranny The Battle of the Nations Leo the Great Discussion Questions 1. What does the author mean when he quotes “Rome was not built in a day” and adds “neither did it fall in a day”? 2. On your notebook page describe how the Roman Empire fell from within, and how it fell due to influences and attacks from without. 3. Be ready to discuss in class what countries resulted from the invasions by the following peoples: ▪ Alaric the Goth (Teutons/Germans) ▪ Lombards ▪ Picts and Scots ▪ Allemanni ▪ Franks ▪ Vandals ▪ Burgundians ▪ Huns 4. What deciding turn of history was determined at the battle between Theoderic and Attila the Hun, known as the Battle of the Nations? Raphael’s The Meeting Between Leo the Great and Attila depicts Leo, escorted by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, meeting with the Hun king outside Rome Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Page 30 Adapted for Middle School from the book: The Story of Europe by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall The Barbarians Invade the Roman Empire In the first centuries of our era the one given over to wandering barbarians, who great power of the world was the Roman were skilled in neither the arts of war nor of Empire. All of southern Europe bowed peace. That the civilization of Rome should beneath the conquering sword of the go down before their ignorance seemed Romans. Africa and Asia, too, were under impossible. Yet the barbarian triumphed, their sway, for the Mediterranean, the great Rome fell, and the mighty empire crumbled trade route of the known world of the time, into dust. was theirs, and the countries bordering “Rome was not built in a day.” Neither upon it became mere provinces of Rome. did Rome fall in a day. The fall was gradual, Even the uttermost islands felt their might, and came both from without and from and sailing beyond the “narrow sea,” Caesar within. set his hand upon the island of Britain. From the Rhine and the Danube in the The Destructive Power of Tyranny North, to the desert of Sahara in the South, The fall came because there was tyranny from the borders of Wales in the West, to in the empire, and no state can long be held the Euphrates and the Tigris in the East, the by tyranny and the power of the sword empire stretched. alone. The high officials and tax collectors Of this wide empire the city of Rome was cared nothing for the people’s good, they the capital. Secure upon her seven hills she cared only for gold. They laid heavy and sat, ruler of the world, a city without rival, unjust taxes upon the middle classes. These until in A.D. 330 the Christian emperor classes must always be the backbone and Constantine the Great resolved to build a support of a nation, but in Rome’s last days new Rome upon the shores of the they were so oppressed that they ceased to Bosphorus. Constantine called his new city exist. The backbone of the nation was gone. “New Rome.” But men did not take readily So when wild barbarian hordes poured over to the name, and the capital upon the the borders of the empire, Rome fell. Bosphorus became known as But let’s back up a bit. When Emperor Constantinople, or the City of Constantine. Theodosius died, about sixty years after the It is difficult today to remember that founding of Constantinople, he left two Constantinople was founded by a Christian sons, both mere boys. They divided the and was at one time the bulwark of empire between them, Arcadius, the elder, Christianity against the Turk. taking Constantinople for his capital, ruled The Romans called themselves lords of over the Eastern Empire, and Honorius, a the world. And so it seemed they were. All child of eleven, became ruler of the Western the trade and skill, all the art and learning Empire, with Rome as his capital. The of the known world, were theirs. Beyond the Eastern Empire was able to repel invasions borders of the Roman Empire the world was fairly successfully for centuries. It was upon Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 2: The Fall of Rome Page 31 Rome and the Western Empire that the full Death laid his hand upon the victorious force of the barbarian onslaught fell. Goth, and all his triumphs were blotted out. First came the Goths. These were The new king of the Goths, Ataulphus (“son Teutons, or Germans, and they were divided of the Wolf”), did not follow up on Alaric’s into two tribes — the Visigoths or western triumphs. He turned aside from Africa, Goths, and the Ostrogoths or eastern Goths. forsook the wasted plains of Italy, and They were tall and strong, their eyes were marching his war-worn followers into blue, their hair long and fair. They were southern Gaul and northern Spain, settled lawless, greedy, and treacherous. They there. came at first fleeing from the Huns, a far Meanwhile other barbarian hosts more barbarous foe, seeking shelter attacked the outposts of the empire. For in a beneath the still all-powerful scepter of vain endeavor to guard Italy and Rome itself Rome. They found the protection they the last legions had been called back even desired, but before long they turned their from Britain, and the northern boundaries swords against the men who had provided of the empire were left a prey to the it. barbarians. Over the wall in Britain which stretched The March of Alaric from Forth to Clyde stormed the Picts and Under their young king Alaric, the Scots, across the Rhine and the Danube on Visigoths attacked the empire again and the Continent poured wild hordes of Franks, again. Twice Alaric laid siege to Rome. Burgundians, Lombards, Allemanni, and Twice he spared the imperial city. Still a Vandals. The Franks settled in Gaul and third time he came, and this time he sacked made it Frankland. The Burgundians, too, and plundered it without mercy. Then, settled in Gaul, and to-day the fair province laden with rich booty and driving a long of France lying between the Loire and the train of captives before him, he turned Saône still keeps their name. The Vandals southward. The proudest city in the world settled in Spain, of which a province is still lay at his feet, and flushed with victory, he named Andalusia (Vandalusia). The marched to invade Africa. Lombards, or “Longbeards,” overran northern Italy, and today the central province of northern Italy is still named Lombardy. Angles and Saxons left their homes on the Weser and the Elbe, sailed across the sea, and taking possession of southern Britain, changed its name to “Angle-land,” or England.
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