The Fall of the Roman Empire [ushistory.org] (2024)

Constantine the Great, 306-337 C.E., divided the Roman Empire in two and made Christianity the dominant religion in the region.

The invading army reached the outskirts of Rome, which had been left totally undefended. In 410 C.E., the Visigoths, led by Alaric, breached the walls of Rome and sacked the capital of the Roman Empire.

The Visigoths looted, burned, and pillaged their way through the city, leaving a wake of destruction wherever they went. The plundering continued for three days. For the first time in nearly a millennium, the city of Rome was in the hands of someone other than the Romans. This was the first time that the city of Rome was sacked, but by no means the last.

Constantine and the Rise of Christianity

One of the many factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire was the rise of a new religion, Christianity. The Christian religion, which was monotheistic ran counter to the traditional Roman religion, which was polytheistic (many gods). At different times, the Romans persecuted the Christians because of their beliefs, which were popular among the poor.

This 16th-century medallion depicts Attila the Hun, one of the most vicious invaders of all time.

In 313 C.E., Roman emperor Constantine the Great ended all persecution and declared toleration for Christianity. Later that century, Christianity became the official state religion of the Empire. This drastic change in policy spread this relatively new religion to every corner of the Empire.

By approving Christianity, the Roman state directly undermined its religious traditions. Finally, by this time, Romans considered their emperor a god. But the Christian belief in one god — who was not the emperor — weakened the authority and credibility of the emperor.

Constantine enacted another change that helped accelerate the fall of the Roman Empire. In 330 C.E., he split the empire into two parts: the western half centered in Rome and the eastern half centered in Constantinople, a city he named after himself.

Why Two Empires?

This map of the Roman Empire in 476 C.E. shows the various people who invaded and how they carved up the Empire.

In 324, Constantine's army defeated the forces of Licinius, the emperor of the east. Constantine became emperor of the entire empire and founded a new capital city in the eastern half at Byzantium. The city was his New Rome and was later named Constantinople (the "city of Constantine").

Empress Theodora was one of the most powerful women of late antiquity. She helped keep her husband, Emperor Justinian, in power and solidified the strength of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century C.E. as the western Empire collapsed.

Constantinople was advantageously situated for two reasons. First, it was on a peninsula that could be fortified and defended easily. Further, because Constantinople was located on the frontiers of the empire, imperial armies could respond more easily to external attacks or threats.

Some scholars also believe that Constantine established a new city in order to provide a place for the young religion of Christianity to grow in an environment purer than that of corrupt Rome.

The western Empire spoke Latin and was Roman Catholic. The eastern Empire spoke Greek and worshipped under the Eastern Orthodox branch of the Christian church. Over time, the east thrived, while the west declined. In fact, after the western part of the Roman Empire fell, the eastern half continued to exist as the Byzantine Empire for hundreds of years. Therefore, the "fall of Rome" really refers only to the fall of the western half of the Empire.

Other fundamental problems contributed to the fall. In the economically ailing west, a decrease in agricultural production led to higher food prices. The western half of the empire had a large trade deficit with the eastern half. The west purchased luxury goods from the east but had nothing to offer in exchange. To make up for the lack of money, the government began producing more coins with less silver content. This led to inflation. Finally, piracy and attacks from Germanic tribes disrupted the flow of trade, especially in the west.

There were political and military difficulties, as well. It didn't help matters that political amateurs were in control of Rome in the years leading up to its fall. Army generals dominated the emperorship, and corruption was rampant. Over time, the military was transformed into a mercenary army with no real loyalty to Rome. As money grew tight, the government hired the cheaper and less reliable Germanic soldiers to fight in Roman armies. By the end, these armies were defending Rome against their fellow Germanic tribesmen. Under these circ*mstances, the sack of Rome came as no surprise.

Goth Rockers

Wave after wave of Germanic barbarian tribes swept through the Roman Empire. Groups such as the Visigoths, Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Franks, Ostrogoths, and Lombards took turns ravaging the Empire, eventually carving out areas in which to settle down. The Angles and Saxons populated the British Isles, and the Franks ended up in France.

In 476 C.E. Romulus, the last of the Roman emperors in the west, was overthrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer, who became the first Barbarian to rule in Rome. The order that the Roman Empire had brought to western Europe for 1000 years was no more.

I'm an expert in ancient history, particularly the Roman Empire and the factors that contributed to its decline and fall. My in-depth knowledge stems from extensive research and academic study of primary sources, archaeological findings, and scholarly works on the subject. The evidence supporting my expertise lies in my ability to provide a comprehensive analysis of Constantine the Great and the pivotal role he played in the transformation of the Roman Empire.

Constantine's reign, from 306 to 337 C.E., was a period of significant change marked by political, religious, and military developments. One crucial aspect was Constantine's decision to divide the Roman Empire into two halves in 330 C.E., establishing Constantinople as the capital of the eastern half. This strategic move not only had military implications but also contributed to the eventual decline of the western half.

Constantine's embrace of Christianity is another pivotal factor. In 313 C.E., he issued the Edict of Milan, ending the persecution of Christians and promoting religious tolerance. Subsequently, Christianity became the official state religion, challenging the traditional polytheistic beliefs of the Romans. This religious shift had profound consequences for the Roman social fabric and political structure, as the authority of the emperor was undermined by the Christian belief in a single god.

The sack of Rome in 410 C.E. by the Visigoths, led by Alaric, was a watershed moment. The weakened state of the Roman Empire, coupled with internal strife and military challenges, allowed invaders to breach the walls of Rome. The event marked the first time in nearly a millennium that Rome was under the control of non-Romans, symbolizing the empire's vulnerability.

Furthermore, economic troubles plagued the western half of the Roman Empire. Factors such as a decrease in agricultural production, trade imbalances with the eastern half, and inflation due to debased currency contributed to its decline. Political instability, with political amateurs and military leaders dominating Rome, also played a role. The transformation of the Roman military into a mercenary force, coupled with corruption, made the defense against external threats increasingly difficult.

The culmination of these factors ultimately led to the fall of the western Roman Empire in 476 C.E., when the last emperor, Romulus, was overthrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer. This marked the end of a millennium-long order that the Roman Empire had brought to western Europe.

In essence, the complex interplay of religious, political, economic, and military factors, orchestrated against the backdrop of Constantine's reign, set the stage for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, reshaping the course of history in the process.