Why the Western Roman Empire fell: several causes
Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
How historians explain the fall
Who When What they argue Edward Gibbon, an English historian 1781 Rome grew too great, and its size led to its decline Alexander Demandt, a German historian 1984 listed more than 200 factors that writers had named Catastrophists, one group of historians recent a sharp break: fewer cities, less trade, less reading and writing Continuists, another group recent a slower change: trade went on, bishops took on governors' jobs, and new kings kept some Roman ways Researchers on climate and disease recent a disease (165 to 180 CE) and a cooler, drier climate from the mid-200s hurt farming Beside the chart: Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, General Observations (1781): "But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable [bound to happen] effect of immoderate greatness [growing too great]. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest…" Historians still disagree about which causes mattered most. The Eastern Empire lasted until 1453.
What did Alexander Demandt do in 1984, Tala asks?
- Listed over 200 factors writers named
- Found the one true cause of the fall
- Measured the climate of the 200s CE in Rome
- Wrote that Rome grew too great
What do continuists argue, Zee asks?
- A disease alone ended Rome in 180
- A slower change, with Roman ways going on
- Rome grew too great to last long
- A sharp break, with fewer cities and less trade
Which two causes do climate and disease researchers point to, Ari asks?
- A long list of 200 factors
- Rome's great size and its wealth
- Weak rulers and rising prices in the cities
- A disease and a cooler, drier climate
In the passage, what does Gibbon say caused Rome's decline, Bo asks?
- Its small size and few lands
- A cooler climate in the 200s
- A sudden disease that came in a single year
- Its own growth into a great size
Gibbon wrote in 1781. Why should Jun read Gibbon's view as one view, not the last word?
- Later historians named more causes
- Gibbon saw Rome fall himself
- Gibbon wrote it in 476 CE
- Gibbon listed the 200 factors
Ranking causes by when they began
Cause When Weak rulers 235 to 284 CE Money troubles (less silver in coins) the 200s CE Rule split into East and West 285 to 293 CE Groups from outside take western lands 410 to 476 CE Odovacer removes the last Western emperor 476 CE Below the chart: a long-term cause builds up over many years; a short-term cause comes just before the event. Historians weigh and rank these causes differently.
Which is a long-term cause, by the chart, Kira asks?
- The end of the Western emperors in 476
- Odovacer's act in 476 CE
- Money troubles in the 200s CE
- Lands lost from 410 CE
Luz must rank the causes of the fall. Which statement is most careful?
- Historians agree the climate came first
- The causes did not affect each other
- Historians agree weak rulers came first
- Historians rank the causes differently
Milo ranks money troubles above Odovacer's act in 476 CE. Which reason fits best?
- They weakened Rome for many years
- They began after 476 CE
- Inflation made Rome richer
- Odovacer caused the money troubles
How historians explain the fall
Who When What they argue Edward Gibbon, an English historian 1781 Rome grew too great, and its size led to its decline Alexander Demandt, a German historian 1984 listed more than 200 factors that writers had named Catastrophists, one group of historians recent a sharp break: fewer cities, less trade, less reading and writing Continuists, another group recent a slower change: trade went on, bishops took on governors' jobs, and new kings kept some Roman ways Researchers on climate and disease recent a disease (165 to 180 CE) and a cooler, drier climate from the mid-200s hurt farming Beside the chart: Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, General Observations (1781): "But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable [bound to happen] effect of immoderate greatness [growing too great]. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest…" Historians still disagree about which causes mattered most. The Eastern Empire lasted until 1453.
Noah's note says, "The whole Roman Empire ended in 476 CE." Which fix is right?
- Change 476 CE to 1781
- Change Roman to Greek
- Change whole to Western
- Leave it: 476 is the date
Ren's note says, "Gibbon saw Rome fall in 476 CE." Which fix is right?
- Leave it: he wrote about 476
- Change 476 CE to 1984
- Change it: he wrote about it in 1781
- Change Gibbon to Constantine