Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils examine the changing nature of the state that became the Roman Empire. They learn about its origins and kings, its period as a republic and its imperial history, ending with its division and decline. Throughout, pupils analyse how the idea of 'being a Roman' changed over time.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Key Notes

• Various major problems affected the Western Roman Empire after its split, leading to many theories about its fall.
• The Western Roman Empire had many financial, political and military problems after the Empire's division.
• The Western Roman Empire was almost destroyed when Alaric and the Visigoths attacked Rome in 410 CE.
• The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE when Germanic tribes defeated the last Western Roman Emperor.

Vocabulary To Learn

• theory: a group of ideas to explain something is called a theory
• economy: economy is the way people, businesses and governments make and spend money
• politics: politics refers to the way that a country's government make decisions and laws
• unstable: something is unstable when there are lots of unpredictable changes
• sack: to sack is to take all the valuable goods after you have conquered a place

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The fall of the Western Roman Empire happened when it was sacked in 410 CE.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Roman kings Study Guide
• The division of the Roman Empire Study Guide
• The rise of the Emperors Study Guide
• The Roman Republic Study Guide
• What it meant to be a Roman Study Guide