The Fall of the Roman Empire*

GUIDED READING The Fall of the 

Roman Empire 

Section 4 

A. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects As you read about the decline and 

fall of the Roman Empire, take notes to answer the questions. 

1. What were the causes of each condition that led to the fall of the Roman Empire? 

a. Disruption of trade 

• Hostile tribes on boundaries of empire
• Pirates of the Mediterranean Sea

b. Gold and silver drain 

• Reached limit of expansion
• Started mining coins with less value

c. Inflation 

• Value of money dropped
• Prices went up

d. Decline of loyalty and discipline in military 

• Soldiers gave their loyalty to commanders instead of Rome
• Commanders fought for the throne
• Began recruiting merchandaries

e. Citizen indifference and loss of patriotism 

• Average citizens loyalty to Rome weakened
• Conditions in later centuries made Citizens loose patriotism
• Indifferent to empires fate

2. What steps did Diocletian take to restore order and reform the empire? 

• He split the empire into East and West
• Co-ruled with another ruler but was the one with more power

3. What did Constantine do to reform the empire? 

• He moved the capital and built walls around it
• Ended persecution of Christians

4. What caused the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire? 

• The last Ruler had no control 

B. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects On the back of this paper, explain how 

mercenaries and Attila contributed to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. 

• Attila led many attacks with the Huns
• Mercenaries were not not loyal to the empire

TERMS & NAMES 

1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.

• inflation- Money had less values and prices went up.

• mercenary- A forgein soldier paid to fight for Rome

• Diocletian- Split the empire into two.

• Constantinople- Named after Constantine and was the capital of the empire

• Attila- Led the Huns in many attacks against the empire

MAIN IDEAS

3. What were the main internal causes of the empire’s decline? (use the chart in the readings to detail the causes).

Invasion by Germanic tribes and by the Huns.

4. How did Diocletian succeed in preserving the empire?

He had two sections with two rulers.

5. Why did so many Germanic tribes begin invading the Roman Empire?

They were becoming weaker.