YEARS OF STRUGGLES LEAD TO DECLINE

DROUGHT, POOR SOIL, FEW RESOURCES, PIRATES

HIGH TAXES, POOR HARVESTS, INFLATION

WAVES OF NEWCOMERS- INTEGRATION?

GLADIATORS, CIVIL WAR, ASSASINATIONS

HUGE TERRITORY TO DEFEND- MILITARY STRETCHED THIN

OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID, MORE MERCENARIES

ROMAN EMPERORS CONTROL GOVERNMENT

IMPERIAL SUCCESSION PLAGUED WITH CORRUPTION & PARANOIA

DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT BY PEOPLE

WEST & EAST- STRENGTHEN OR WEAKEN?

THE NEW CAPITAL OF ROME

GERMANIC TRIBES, HUNS, GOTHS, VANDALS, fRANKS

THE WEST IS NOT DEAD... JUST POOR & WEAK

ROMAN CULTURE CONTINUES IN THE EAST