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Lesson 5 The Decline of the Roman Empire

Vocabulary (p. 339)

Define each of the following terms

1. inflation

2. barbarian

3. mercenary

4. orthodocy

5. communication

6. callapse

Answer the questions as you read this lesson.

Why Did the Pax Romana End? (p. 339)

1. What problems from inside and from outside threatened the Roman empire near the end of the
Pax Romana?

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What Was the Imperial Crisis? (p. 340)

2. How did civil unrest lead to a weakening of the Roman empire’s economy?

3. During the Imperial Crisis, what were two foreign threats to the Roman empire from the north
and the east?

The Late Empire (p. 341)

4. Describe Diocletian’s plans to save the empire. Write or draw your answer below.

5. What two important changes did Constantine make to the Roman empire?

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The West Collapses (p. 342)

6. Number the following events in the order in which they happened. The first one has been done
for you.

_____ Huns attack the borders of the empire.

_____ Constantine builds a new capital for the eastern part in Constantinople.

_____ Odoacer overthrows the last Roman emperor.

_____ Roman troops abandon Britain.

_____ Germans, fleeing the invading Huns, move into the Roman empire.

__1__ Diocletian divides the empire into a western and an eastern part.

_____ The Byzantine empire survives in the east.

7. For what two achievements is Theodosius known?

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Lesson Check
1. When inflation occurs, do prices rise or fall?

2. Why do mercenaries fight?

3. How did civil wars lead to economic problems?

4. What changes did Diocletian make to try and solve the Roman empire’s succession
problem?

5. How did the Huns’ movement affect the Roman empire?

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