Rome's empire declined and fell.

• In A.D. 476 a barbarian king took over the rule of Rome.
• First, there was a long time of turmoil known b y historians as the "crisis of the third century." During these years, the empire was beset by economic, military, and political problems. Second, there was a time of revival, during which the empire was divided into two parts, an eastern half and a western half. Third, the western half of the empire fell to invaders.

Crises weakened the empire.

• Trade was disrupted by barbarian raids and by bands of pirates on Mediterranean sea lanes.
• Trade was disrupted by barbarian raids and by bands of pirates on Mediterranean sea lanes. Rome's gold and silver were drained away to buy luxuries from China, India, and Arabia, including spices, perfumes, rubies, pearls, and silk. Rome's small industries produced only wine, cheese, and glass.
• Desperate to pay its mounting expenses, the Roman government started minting coins that contained less and less silver.
• An increase in prices is called inflation.

Military decay

• Throughout the third century, tribes of northern barbarians called Goths repeatedly overran the legions guarding the Danube frontier.
• Roman soldiers now fought strictly for money, not for patriotism.
• The loyalty of barbarian troops to the empire could hardly be trusted.

Political Decay

• Rome continued to require each tax district to send in a certain amount. If the local tax collector could not gather up that much, he had to pay the difference himself.