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"Rome's Decline and LegacyEconomics Nomadic peoples often attack settlements to gain the goods that civilizations produce.
Roman armies spent a lot of time fighting people who wanted to enter the empire. Some nomads wanted the protection of the Roman Empire. Others wanted to take over Roman lands. They disrupted trade and took valuable goods."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Roman armies spent a lot of time fighting people who wanted to enter the empire. Some nomads wanted the protection of the Roman Empire. Others wanted to take over Roman lands. They disrupted trade and took valuable goods."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Excerpt from "Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOTHS
Background: The Goths were Germanic peoples who lived north and east of the Western Roman Empire. In A.D. 375, a fierce Asian people called the Huns began to invade the Goths' territory. The Huns killed hundreds of people and burned villages and fields. Fearing for their lives, some Goths fled to the Western Roman Empire. There, they asked the Romans for protection. Imagine that you are an observer as the Goths arrive at the border of the Roman Empire.
Fear of the Huns caused the western Goths to ask the Romans for protection. The Romans agreed to let the Goths cross the river into their empire. First, however, the Romans said the Goths must give up their weapons. But Goth warriors believed they had no honor without weapons. So they paid the Romans money or did favors for them in order to keep their weapons.
The river crossing was hard. The water was high and flowed swiftly. The floodwaters swept many people to their deaths.
Then the Goths entered a camp guarded by Roman soldiers. The governors of the region were supposed to feed the people. Instead, the Roman soldiers sold the people food—disgusting stuff that no Roman would eat. For example, some meat came from animals that died of disease. In exchange, the Romans took everything of value the Goths had.
Now the Romans are also buying Goth children and making them their slaves. Many Goth parents believe slavery is better than starvation. But they are bitter about making such a cruel choice.
Anger is growing. One Goth says, "We told the Romans that if they helped us, we would accept their religion and fight their enemies. As soon as we have nothing left to offer, they will starve us."
Some people propose going to the governors and explaining the Goths' suffering. "Maybe they will make the soldiers treat us better," one argues.
Others mutter about getting revenge. "We are men of honor. We still have weapons, and we can fight the Romans."
An Empire in Decline
Build on What You Know Did you ever have a problem you thought you could solve, then realized you could not find the right solution for it? In this lesson you will learn that the Roman Empire began to develop difficult problems for which there seemed to be no obvious solutions.
Weakness in the Empire
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What problems weakened Rome?
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in A.D. 180, a series of problems began to weaken the empire. These economic and political problems were difficult to solve.
Economic Problems
The empire could no longer feed its many people. Some farmland had been destroyed by warfare. But the biggest problem was improving farm production. With many slaves to do the work, plantation owners chose not to develop more-productive farming technology. As a result, the land wore out and harvests did not increase. Food shortages caused unrest.
The empire was running low on money. Taxes were high, so many people did not pay them. Without tax money, the government could not pay the army or buy needed services.
Military Problems
Rome was constantly at war with nomadic peoples in the north and northeast, as well as with the people who lived along its eastern borders. The empire needed larger armies to respond to so many threats, so it hired foreign mercenaries. A mercenary is a soldier for hire.
Mercenaries often had no loyalty to the empire. They pledged their allegiance to an individual military leader. Having armies that were loyal to only one man created independent military powers within the empire. In addition, mercenaries were not as disciplined as Roman soldiers. This lack of discipline made the army less effective. The result was a weakened defense along the empire's borders.
Political and Social Problems
The sheer physical size of the Roman Empire made it hard to govern. Government officials found it was not easy to obtain news about affairs in some regions of the empire. This made it more difficult to know where problems were developing. Also, many government officials were corrupt, seeking only to enrich themselves. These political problems destroyed a sense of citizenship. Many Romans no longer felt a sense of duty to the empire. Many chose to get rich in business rather than serve in the government.
Other aspects of Roman society also suffered. The cost of education increased, so poor Romans found it harder to become educated. In addition, distributing news across the large empire became more difficult. People grew less informed about civic matters.
Diocletian Divides the Empire
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What steps did Diocletian take to solve the empire's problems?
A rapidly changing series of emperors also weakened the government. During a 49-year period (from A.D. 235 to 284), Rome had 20 emperors. Some of them were military leaders who used their armies to seize control. With emperors changing so often, the Roman people had little sense of orderly rule.
Diocletian Restores Order
In A.D. 284, the emperor Diocletian (DY•uh•KLEE•shunn) took power. He changed the way the army operated by permanently placing troops at the empire's borders. He also introduced economic reforms, including keeping prices low on goods such as bread, to help feed the poor.
During his reign, Diocletian no longer bothered to consult with the Senate. He issued laws on his own. Diocletian was an absolute ruler, one who has total power.
Splitting the Empire
Diocletian soon realized that he could not effectively govern the huge empire. In A.D. 285, he reorganized it in two, taking the eastern portion for himself. He chose this area for its greater wealth and trade, and its magnificent cities. He appointed Maximian to rule the Western Empire. The two men ruled for 20 years.
In A.D. 306 a civil war broke out over control of the empire. Four military commanders—including Constantine—fought for control of the two halves of the empire.
Constantine Continues Reform
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did Constantine change the empire?
You learned that Constantine made it lawful to be a Christian. Now you will learn how he became emperor and reunited the Roman Empire.
A Single Emperor
Constantine was a western Roman military commander who fought to gain control of Italy during the civil war. In A.D.312, he entered Rome as the new emperor of the empire's western half. By A.D. 324, he had taken control of the Eastern Empire as well. The empire was reunited and Constantine became the sole emperor.
A New Capital
In a bold move, Constantine shifted the empire's capital from Rome to Byzantium. Byzantium was an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. At a crossroads between east and west, the city was well placed for defense and trade. Constantine enlarged and beautified his new capital, which he renamed Constantinople. Today the city is called Istanbul.
Final Division
Constantine planned to have each of his three sons rule a portion of the empire after his death. His plan was unwise, for Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans I created unrest by competing with one another. A period of conflict followed. In 395, the empire was permanently divided into east and west again.
Lesson Summary
Why It Matters Now . . .
The mistakes made by the Roman emperors remind us that to retain power and control, rulers must successfully deal with many different problems."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOTHS
Background: The Goths were Germanic peoples who lived north and east of the Western Roman Empire. In A.D. 375, a fierce Asian people called the Huns began to invade the Goths' territory. The Huns killed hundreds of people and burned villages and fields. Fearing for their lives, some Goths fled to the Western Roman Empire. There, they asked the Romans for protection. Imagine that you are an observer as the Goths arrive at the border of the Roman Empire.
Fear of the Huns caused the western Goths to ask the Romans for protection. The Romans agreed to let the Goths cross the river into their empire. First, however, the Romans said the Goths must give up their weapons. But Goth warriors believed they had no honor without weapons. So they paid the Romans money or did favors for them in order to keep their weapons.
The river crossing was hard. The water was high and flowed swiftly. The floodwaters swept many people to their deaths.
Then the Goths entered a camp guarded by Roman soldiers. The governors of the region were supposed to feed the people. Instead, the Roman soldiers sold the people food—disgusting stuff that no Roman would eat. For example, some meat came from animals that died of disease. In exchange, the Romans took everything of value the Goths had.
Now the Romans are also buying Goth children and making them their slaves. Many Goth parents believe slavery is better than starvation. But they are bitter about making such a cruel choice.
Anger is growing. One Goth says, "We told the Romans that if they helped us, we would accept their religion and fight their enemies. As soon as we have nothing left to offer, they will starve us."
Some people propose going to the governors and explaining the Goths' suffering. "Maybe they will make the soldiers treat us better," one argues.
Others mutter about getting revenge. "We are men of honor. We still have weapons, and we can fight the Romans."
An Empire in Decline
Build on What You Know Did you ever have a problem you thought you could solve, then realized you could not find the right solution for it? In this lesson you will learn that the Roman Empire began to develop difficult problems for which there seemed to be no obvious solutions.
Weakness in the Empire
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What problems weakened Rome?
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in A.D. 180, a series of problems began to weaken the empire. These economic and political problems were difficult to solve.
Economic Problems
The empire could no longer feed its many people. Some farmland had been destroyed by warfare. But the biggest problem was improving farm production. With many slaves to do the work, plantation owners chose not to develop more-productive farming technology. As a result, the land wore out and harvests did not increase. Food shortages caused unrest.
The empire was running low on money. Taxes were high, so many people did not pay them. Without tax money, the government could not pay the army or buy needed services.
Military Problems
Rome was constantly at war with nomadic peoples in the north and northeast, as well as with the people who lived along its eastern borders. The empire needed larger armies to respond to so many threats, so it hired foreign mercenaries. A mercenary is a soldier for hire.
Mercenaries often had no loyalty to the empire. They pledged their allegiance to an individual military leader. Having armies that were loyal to only one man created independent military powers within the empire. In addition, mercenaries were not as disciplined as Roman soldiers. This lack of discipline made the army less effective. The result was a weakened defense along the empire's borders.
Political and Social Problems
The sheer physical size of the Roman Empire made it hard to govern. Government officials found it was not easy to obtain news about affairs in some regions of the empire. This made it more difficult to know where problems were developing. Also, many government officials were corrupt, seeking only to enrich themselves. These political problems destroyed a sense of citizenship. Many Romans no longer felt a sense of duty to the empire. Many chose to get rich in business rather than serve in the government.
Other aspects of Roman society also suffered. The cost of education increased, so poor Romans found it harder to become educated. In addition, distributing news across the large empire became more difficult. People grew less informed about civic matters.
Diocletian Divides the Empire
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What steps did Diocletian take to solve the empire's problems?
A rapidly changing series of emperors also weakened the government. During a 49-year period (from A.D. 235 to 284), Rome had 20 emperors. Some of them were military leaders who used their armies to seize control. With emperors changing so often, the Roman people had little sense of orderly rule.
Diocletian Restores Order
In A.D. 284, the emperor Diocletian (DY•uh•KLEE•shunn) took power. He changed the way the army operated by permanently placing troops at the empire's borders. He also introduced economic reforms, including keeping prices low on goods such as bread, to help feed the poor.
During his reign, Diocletian no longer bothered to consult with the Senate. He issued laws on his own. Diocletian was an absolute ruler, one who has total power.
Splitting the Empire
Diocletian soon realized that he could not effectively govern the huge empire. In A.D. 285, he reorganized it in two, taking the eastern portion for himself. He chose this area for its greater wealth and trade, and its magnificent cities. He appointed Maximian to rule the Western Empire. The two men ruled for 20 years.
In A.D. 306 a civil war broke out over control of the empire. Four military commanders—including Constantine—fought for control of the two halves of the empire.
Constantine Continues Reform
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did Constantine change the empire?
You learned that Constantine made it lawful to be a Christian. Now you will learn how he became emperor and reunited the Roman Empire.
A Single Emperor
Constantine was a western Roman military commander who fought to gain control of Italy during the civil war. In A.D.312, he entered Rome as the new emperor of the empire's western half. By A.D. 324, he had taken control of the Eastern Empire as well. The empire was reunited and Constantine became the sole emperor.
A New Capital
In a bold move, Constantine shifted the empire's capital from Rome to Byzantium. Byzantium was an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. At a crossroads between east and west, the city was well placed for defense and trade. Constantine enlarged and beautified his new capital, which he renamed Constantinople. Today the city is called Istanbul.
Final Division
Constantine planned to have each of his three sons rule a portion of the empire after his death. His plan was unwise, for Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans I created unrest by competing with one another. A period of conflict followed. In 395, the empire was permanently divided into east and west again.
Lesson Summary
- The Roman Empire declined because of a combination of economic, military, and political reasons.
- Diocletian reorganized the empire to increase efficiency in government.
- Constantine unified the empire and moved its capital to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.
Why It Matters Now . . .
The mistakes made by the Roman emperors remind us that to retain power and control, rulers must successfully deal with many different problems."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Photo Credit: "Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"The Fall of the Roman Empire
Build on What You Know You have learned how the Roman Empire was permanently split in A.D. 395. Now read about the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
The Two Roman Empires
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why did the Western Roman Empire weaken?
When people talk about the fall of the Roman Empire, they mean the Western Roman Empire.
Wealthy East
The Eastern Roman Empire was much stronger than the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Empire's capital, Constantinople, bustled with traders from Asia, Africa, and Europe. As a result, the Eastern Empire had more wealth. Also, the eastern cities were larger and better fortified. And the Black Sea was a natural barrier that discouraged invasions.
Weaker West
In contrast, cities in the Western Empire were smaller and less prosperous. They were located farther away from the trade routes that provided both goods and wealth."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Build on What You Know You have learned how the Roman Empire was permanently split in A.D. 395. Now read about the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
The Two Roman Empires
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why did the Western Roman Empire weaken?
When people talk about the fall of the Roman Empire, they mean the Western Roman Empire.
Wealthy East
The Eastern Roman Empire was much stronger than the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Empire's capital, Constantinople, bustled with traders from Asia, Africa, and Europe. As a result, the Eastern Empire had more wealth. Also, the eastern cities were larger and better fortified. And the Black Sea was a natural barrier that discouraged invasions.
Weaker West
In contrast, cities in the Western Empire were smaller and less prosperous. They were located farther away from the trade routes that provided both goods and wealth."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"The cities of the west were more exposed to attack from groups of invaders along the northern border of the Roman Empire. Defense forces were widely scattered. They were often poorly paid, so they had little reason to risk their lives.
Istanbul - Today Constantinople is called Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is visible in the foreground of this aerial view of the city.
Invaders Raid Cities
The invaders were often looking for goods to take or people to kidnap and sell as slaves. As attacks on cities increased, the inhabitants chose to leave. They were looking for safer surroundings. The less populated the cities became, the more vulnerable they were to attack.
Invading Peoples
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What groups moved into the Roman Empire?
Defense forces on the north and northeast borders of the Roman Empire grew weaker. Nomads —people who move from place to place—took advantage of this weakness and frequently attacked Roman towns and cities. These groups were known as Germanic peoples. The Romans had clashes with Germanic peoples along their northern borders for hundreds of years.
The Germanic Peoples
A variety of groups made up the Germanic peoples. They all spoke languages that were part of a language family also called Germanic. The Goths mentioned in the opening story were a Germanic people.
Romans looked down on these groups but also feared them. To the Romans, the Germanic peoples were barbarians. The term barbarian originally meant someone who spoke a language the Greeks could not understand. Barbarian came to mean someone who was primitive and uncivilized. The Romans referred to the people who lived along the borders of the empire as barbarians. Later, the Romans applied the term to anyone living outside the empire.
Although the Romans thought the Germanic peoples were barbaric, they had a very complex culture. They were skilled metalworkers and fond of jewelry. Some groups had elected assemblies. War chiefs headed their military organizations. The Germanic peoples were loyal, especially to their chieftains. "
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Istanbul - Today Constantinople is called Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is visible in the foreground of this aerial view of the city.
Invaders Raid Cities
The invaders were often looking for goods to take or people to kidnap and sell as slaves. As attacks on cities increased, the inhabitants chose to leave. They were looking for safer surroundings. The less populated the cities became, the more vulnerable they were to attack.
Invading Peoples
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What groups moved into the Roman Empire?
Defense forces on the north and northeast borders of the Roman Empire grew weaker. Nomads —people who move from place to place—took advantage of this weakness and frequently attacked Roman towns and cities. These groups were known as Germanic peoples. The Romans had clashes with Germanic peoples along their northern borders for hundreds of years.
The Germanic Peoples
A variety of groups made up the Germanic peoples. They all spoke languages that were part of a language family also called Germanic. The Goths mentioned in the opening story were a Germanic people.
Romans looked down on these groups but also feared them. To the Romans, the Germanic peoples were barbarians. The term barbarian originally meant someone who spoke a language the Greeks could not understand. Barbarian came to mean someone who was primitive and uncivilized. The Romans referred to the people who lived along the borders of the empire as barbarians. Later, the Romans applied the term to anyone living outside the empire.
Although the Romans thought the Germanic peoples were barbaric, they had a very complex culture. They were skilled metalworkers and fond of jewelry. Some groups had elected assemblies. War chiefs headed their military organizations. The Germanic peoples were loyal, especially to their chieftains. "
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"Germanic Skull - This skull still has its hair. The knot in the hair is a characteristic style of Germanic people.
The German Migrations
Earlier, you read about nomads. Nomads moved to a new location as their food ran out, or when they were driven out of an area by a stronger force. Nomads often fought for the right to remain in a new place. As Rome began to decline, groups of well-armed nomads posed a huge threat to other nomadic people living along the borders of the empire. The people on those borders would be driven into the Roman Empire by a stronger group of nomads.
Between 370 and 500 A.D., Central Asian nomads were pushing people out of their lands into both the Roman and the Chinese empires. The most important of these nomadic groups was the Huns.
The Huns moved across the grasslands of Asia into Germanic lands. They drove the Germanic peoples west and south into Roman territory. The Germanic peoples were looking for new places to settle and for the protection of the Roman armies. As you learned in the opening story, many Romans did not like the Germanic peoples and took advantage of them.
The Fall of Rome
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did the Western Roman Empire end?
Some people believe the barbarian invasions were the cause of Rome's fall. In reality, Rome gradually declined for many reasons. Corruption of government officials, indifferent citizens, and a breakdown of society contributed to the fall. Historians say a barbarian invasion of the city of Rome marked the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire.
Invaders Gain Ground
In 410, the Goths attacked and plundered the city of Rome. Plunder means to loot, or to take things by force. It was the first time in centuries that nomadic invaders had entered Rome. After looting the city for three days, the Goths left. The city of Rome tried to recover and go on, but it was seriously weakened.
Germanic peoples also invaded what is now France, Spain, and northern Africa. The empire's army was no longer strong enough to drive them out. Italy was raided almost constantly.
In 445, the Huns united under the leadership of Attila. First his armies swept into the Eastern Empire. They attacked 70 cities and then moved into the Western Empire. These attacks placed great pressure on the Roman military.
The Aftermath of Rome's Fall
In A.D. 476, the last Roman emperor was removed from power. This date marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire. After Rome's fall, life changed in Western Europe in a number of ways.
The Eastern Empire continued for almost another thousand years.
Lesson Summary
Why It Matters Now . . .
The decline and fall of empires is a repeating pattern of world history. Even large empires eventually break into smaller pieces.
Historians wonder about the reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Most of them agree that there wasn't just one main reason the Roman Empire began to weaken. There were probably many reasons why the empire fell apart. The selection below discusses one of those possible reasons.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Explaining the decline and fall of Rome is a difficult task for historians. Some historians look at the changes in the social and political attitudes of the Romans to find at least one cause for the weakening of the empire. For example, they believe that the nobles and people in the cities cared more about pleasing themselves than about the well-being of other people.
* Historians also know people failed to participate in the government.
* Some public officials were not as qualified to perform their jobs as others in the past had been.
The backbone of the Roman Empire was its army.
* However, in the later years of the empire fewer men were willing to serve in the military.
* This made it necessary to hire foreigners to serve in the Roman army.
* Foreigners had little loyalty to Rome. They served because they were being paid to do so, not because they wanted to serve
* Rome. This lack of dedication weakened the army that was supposed to protect the empire."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
The German Migrations
Earlier, you read about nomads. Nomads moved to a new location as their food ran out, or when they were driven out of an area by a stronger force. Nomads often fought for the right to remain in a new place. As Rome began to decline, groups of well-armed nomads posed a huge threat to other nomadic people living along the borders of the empire. The people on those borders would be driven into the Roman Empire by a stronger group of nomads.
Between 370 and 500 A.D., Central Asian nomads were pushing people out of their lands into both the Roman and the Chinese empires. The most important of these nomadic groups was the Huns.
The Huns moved across the grasslands of Asia into Germanic lands. They drove the Germanic peoples west and south into Roman territory. The Germanic peoples were looking for new places to settle and for the protection of the Roman armies. As you learned in the opening story, many Romans did not like the Germanic peoples and took advantage of them.
The Fall of Rome
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did the Western Roman Empire end?
Some people believe the barbarian invasions were the cause of Rome's fall. In reality, Rome gradually declined for many reasons. Corruption of government officials, indifferent citizens, and a breakdown of society contributed to the fall. Historians say a barbarian invasion of the city of Rome marked the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire.
Invaders Gain Ground
In 410, the Goths attacked and plundered the city of Rome. Plunder means to loot, or to take things by force. It was the first time in centuries that nomadic invaders had entered Rome. After looting the city for three days, the Goths left. The city of Rome tried to recover and go on, but it was seriously weakened.
Germanic peoples also invaded what is now France, Spain, and northern Africa. The empire's army was no longer strong enough to drive them out. Italy was raided almost constantly.
In 445, the Huns united under the leadership of Attila. First his armies swept into the Eastern Empire. They attacked 70 cities and then moved into the Western Empire. These attacks placed great pressure on the Roman military.
The Aftermath of Rome's Fall
In A.D. 476, the last Roman emperor was removed from power. This date marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire. After Rome's fall, life changed in Western Europe in a number of ways.
- Roads and other public structures fell into disrepair.
- Trade and commerce declined. •Germanic kingdoms claimed former Roman lands.
- The Roman Catholic Church became a unifying and powerful force.
The Eastern Empire continued for almost another thousand years.
Lesson Summary
- The Western Roman Empire was less wealthy and harder to protect from invaders than the East.
- Germanic invaders further weakened the empire.
- In A.D. 476, the Western Roman Empire ceased to exist.
Why It Matters Now . . .
The decline and fall of empires is a repeating pattern of world history. Even large empires eventually break into smaller pieces.
Historians wonder about the reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Most of them agree that there wasn't just one main reason the Roman Empire began to weaken. There were probably many reasons why the empire fell apart. The selection below discusses one of those possible reasons.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Explaining the decline and fall of Rome is a difficult task for historians. Some historians look at the changes in the social and political attitudes of the Romans to find at least one cause for the weakening of the empire. For example, they believe that the nobles and people in the cities cared more about pleasing themselves than about the well-being of other people.
* Historians also know people failed to participate in the government.
* Some public officials were not as qualified to perform their jobs as others in the past had been.
The backbone of the Roman Empire was its army.
* However, in the later years of the empire fewer men were willing to serve in the military.
* This made it necessary to hire foreigners to serve in the Roman army.
* Foreigners had little loyalty to Rome. They served because they were being paid to do so, not because they wanted to serve
* Rome. This lack of dedication weakened the army that was supposed to protect the empire."
"Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
All content and images on the page credited to: "Rome's Decline and Legacy." 6th Grade Social Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.