Why the Western Roman Empire fell: several causes
Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Troubles inside the empire (200s CE)
Problem What happened Effect Weak rulers ? no steady leadership Money troubles the government put less silver in its coins to pay its soldiers prices rose: inflation A huge empire long frontiers to guard on the Rhine and Danube rivers and in the east hard to defend and govern Attacks from outside Persians in the east; groups crossing the Rhine and Danube more spending on armies The cell marked ? is blank. Below the chart: historians call 235 to 284 CE the crisis of the third century. Earlier, a disease, the Antonine plague (165 to 180 CE), had spread across the empire. Under Diocletian and Constantine, the empire recovered for a time.
Esme's chart has a blank: what happened to emperors from 235 to 284 CE?
- Coins had less silver put in them
- One emperor ruled the whole 49 years
- At least 30 ruled, most for a short time
- Persians attacked lands in the east
Kira's chart has a blank: what did attacks from outside lead to?
- More spending on armies
- Purer coins with more silver
- Fewer emperors in power
- Less spending on armies
Troubles inside the empire (200s CE)
Problem What happened Effect Weak rulers at least 30 emperors from 235 to 284 CE; most ruled briefly, and many were overthrown by their own soldiers no steady leadership Money troubles the government put less silver in its coins to pay its soldiers prices rose: inflation A huge empire long frontiers to guard on the Rhine and Danube rivers and in the east hard to defend and govern Attacks from outside Persians in the east; groups crossing the Rhine and Danube more spending on armies Below the chart: historians call 235 to 284 CE the crisis of the third century. Earlier, a disease, the Antonine plague (165 to 180 CE), had spread across the empire. Under Diocletian and Constantine, the empire recovered for a time.
Luz reads the word inflation. What does inflation mean?
- Prices fall, so money buys more
- An army crosses a border
- A ruler is chosen by vote
- Prices rise, so money buys less
Milo reads the word invasion. What is an invasion?
- A trade fair between two cities
- A new coin made of pure silver
- An army entering a land by force
- A law passed by the Senate
Noah reads the word frontier. What is a frontier?
- The outer edge of a land
- A tax paid on salt
- A ruler's chosen helper
- The middle of a great city
How many years passed from 235 CE to 284 CE, Pia asks?
- 49 years
- 59 years
- 30 years
- 519 years
Which came first, the Antonine plague or the crisis of the third century, Ren asks?
- The crisis, as 235 is bigger
- Both began in one year
- The crisis, from 235 CE
- The plague, from 165 CE
Why did the government put less silver in its coins, Zee asks?
- People asked for lighter coins
- To pay its soldiers
- To end the attacks from outside
- To make coins worth more
Many emperors were overthrown by their own soldiers. What was the effect, Ari asks?
- Calm, peaceful borders
- No steady leadership
- Lower prices for goods
- Shorter frontiers to guard
Bo says inflation had one cause, weak rulers. What is the best reply?
- Disagree: army pay and attacks both fed it
- Agree: coins came to hold more silver
- Disagree: prices stayed the same
- Agree: weak rulers caused it by themselves
