☀️ C2 (MUST-DO): Case Study - The Fall of the Roman Empire

Last updated about 3 years ago

2 questions

Instructions

8 Reasons Why Rome Fell
Find out why one of history's most legendary empires finally came crashing down.

First, match the REASON why the Roman Empire fell with the MATCHING DESCRIPTION as to why the Roman Empire fell. Look for key words and phrases that serve as clues to help you figure out the matching pairs.

Then, choose two of the reasons why the Roman Empire fell and explain whether or not you think these reasons will cause the American "empire" to collapse.

Required

Match the REASON with the DESCRIPTION of the reason.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Government corruption and political instability		...string of military losses sustained against outside forces.
The rise of the Eastern Empire		...crumbling from within thanks to a severe financial crisis. Constant wars and overspending...oppressive taxation and inflation had widened the gap between rich and poor. ...Rome’s supply of slaves and other war treasures began to dry up.
Christianity and the loss of traditional values		East and West failed to adequately work together to combat outside threats, and the two often squabbled over resources and military aid.
Rebellions from inside the empire		With such a vast territory to govern, the empire faced an administrative and logistical nightmare. Even with their excellent road systems, the Romans were unable to communicate quickly or effectively enough to manage their holdings.
Invasions by Barbarian tribes		...ineffective and inconsistent leadership... Being the Roman emperor had always been a particularly dangerous job, but during the tumultuous second and third centuries it nearly became a death sentence. Civil war thrust the empire into chaos, and more than 20 men took the throne in the span of only 75 years, usually after the murder of their predecessor.
Weakening of the Roman military		...Roman officials even forced the starving Goths to trade their children into slavery in exchange for dog meat. In brutalizing the Goths, the Romans created a dangerous enemy within their own borders. When the oppression became too much to bear, the Goths rose up in revolt.
Overexpansion and military overspending		The decline of Rome dovetailed with the spread of Christianity, and some have argued that the rise of a new faith helped contribute to the empire’s fall.
Economic troubles and overreliance on slave labor		For most of its history, Rome’s military was the envy of the ancient world. But during the decline, the makeup of the once mighty military began to change. Unable to recruit enough soldiers from the Roman citizenry,...

Required

Choose TWO of the REASONS why the Roman Empire fell and compare them to the U.S. Do you think the U.S. is similar or different to the Roman Empire in these two ways? Why or why not?