Sorting Reasons for the Fall of Rome Directions: For each reason for the end of the Roman Empire, type whether you think it is Political, Military, Economic, or Social in the box to the left.

Bad emperors after Marcus Aurelius (180 C. E.)

Creative energy of Rome was destroyed because the empire was so unified (everyone doing the same thing)

Army made smaller to the point that it could not hold off Barbarian invasions

Christianity blamed for ruining the civic and moral spirit of Rome

Food shortages because of climate changes

Most land owned by a few rich people (patricians) after the Punic Wars (the latifundia, when wealthy Romans seized smaller farms and formed large farms under one owner)

Rome needed goods from its provinces (controlled lands)
instead of being self-sufficient

Rome did not produce anything to trade to other areas of the world

The cities declined because they were more concerned
with controlling far off lands than making goods

Civil wars, general instability and pirates after 180 C. E.

Government spent more money than it had leading to inflation

Wealthy Senators didn’t pay taxes

High taxes on the urban middle class

Mercenary armies not very loyal to Rome

Roman citizens avoiding military service

Bribery, corruption and too much bureaucracy (government)

Deaths because of warfare, famine, and disease

Use of slave labor led to revolts

Government capital moved from Rome to Constantinople

Widening gap between the rich patricians and poor plebeians

Background information: this is an article by will irvin, a correspondent for the new york tribune. irvin wrote this piece in april 1915, while reporting from the western front. at the time that irvin wrote this piece, the united states had declared neutrality in the war. boulogne, april 25. – the gaseous vapor which the germans used against the french divisions near ypres last thursday, contrary to the rules of the hague convention, introduces a new element into warfare. the attack of last thursday evening was preceded by the rising of a cloud of vapor, greenish gray and iridescent. that vapor settled to the ground like a swamp mist and drifted toward the french trenches on a brisk wind. its effect on the french was a violent nausea and faintness, followed by an utter collapse. it is believed that the germans, who charged in behind the vapor, met no resistance at all, the french at their front being virtually paralyzed. the effect of the noxious trench gas seems to be slow in wearing away. the men come out of their nausea in a state of utter collapse. some of the rescued have already died from the after effects. how many of the men left unconscious in the trenches when the french broke died from the fumes it is impossible to say, since those trenches were at once occupied by the germans. –will irvin, 1915 what were the effects of the poison gas, according to the reporter? a.) the french were victorious over the germans. b.) soldiers suffered from nausea and began to pass out, while some even died. c.) there were few effects, and the battle continued. d.) the gas was yellow and caused the men’s skin to blister.

Synthesizing new ideas from a speaker with what one already knows about the subject to see if the information makes sense is an example of a. questioning and challenging b. identifying differences c. forming a statement d. seeing the boader context

Read this sentence from part 2: gandhi's model of resistance and reform was creative, appealing, and successful. what is the point of this sentence? gandhi created a new model for others. gandhi had a creative mind. gandhi had many supporters. gandhi's model was effective.