Why the Western Roman Empire fell: several causes

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Steps toward the end in the West

   When	What happened
   285 to 293 CE	Diocletian split rule into an East and a West, with two emperors and two helpers
   after 324 CE	Constantine founded Constantinople, a new capital in the east
   410 CE	the Visigoths plundered the city of Rome
   429 to 439 CE	the Vandals took North Africa, with Carthage in 439, cutting off Rome's grain supply
   455 CE	the Vandals plundered Rome
   476 CE	Odovacer, a general, removed the boy emperor Romulus Augustulus and named no new Western emperor

   Below the chart: the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople, lasted until 1453; historians call it the Byzantine Empire. Older troubles, such as weak rulers and inflation, had already weakened the West.

2. 1.

   What did the Vandals take from 429 to 439 CE, Milo asks?

   • Britain
   • North Africa
   • Constantinople
   • The city of Byzantium
3. 2.

   Who removed the last Western emperor in 476 CE, Noah asks?

   • Romulus Augustulus
   • Constantine, an emperor
   • Diocletian, an emperor
   • Odovacer, a general
4. 3.

   Where was Constantine's new capital, Pia asks?

   • Constantinople, in the east
   • Ravenna, in Italy
   • Carthage, in North Africa
   • Rome, in the west
5. 4.

   The Vandals took North Africa. What was the effect on Rome, Ren asks?

   • Its grain supply was cut off
   • It became the Eastern capital
   • It gained much more grain
   • Its emperor moved to Africa
6. 5.

   Diocletian split rule into East and West. What was one long-term effect, Tala asks?

   • The halves grew apart; the East lasted
   • Rome took back North Africa
   • The empire became a single city
   • Both halves ended in 476 CE
7. 6.

   Why do historians say the Western Empire ended in 476 CE, Zee asks?

   • The Eastern Empire ended that year
   • Rome was plundered first that year
   • Constantinople was founded that year
   • No new Western emperor was named
8. 7.

   How long did the Eastern Empire last after 476 CE, until 1453, Bo asks?

   • 97 years
   • 977 years
   • 1,077 years
   • 1,929 years
9. 8.

   Which came first, the Vandals plundering Rome or the Visigoths plundering it, Esme asks?

   • The Vandals, as 455 is bigger
   • The Vandals, in 455 CE
   • The Visigoths, in 410 CE
   • Both came in one year
10. 9.

    Which claim does the chart support best, Jun asks?

    • The East fell in 476 CE
    • The West fell in a single day
    • Rome was not plundered before 476
    • The West broke up over many years
11. 10.

    Luz's friend says outside groups alone ended the West. What is the best reply?

    • Disagree: no outside groups came
    • Agree: outside groups did it by themselves
    • Disagree: older troubles mattered too
    • Agree: the East ended at the same time