Question

A) Classify by dragging and dropping the internal and external factors that led to the decline of the
Roman Empire. Each term is used once. (8 points)
 Attacks from Germanic tribes  High cost of maintaining military  Uneducated poor
 Provinces declare independence  Civil wars  1/3 population enslaved
 Food rations and entertainment ("bread and circuses")  Wealthy concentrated to few

Answer 1

Internal factors
- High cost of maintaining military — drained imperial finances and economy
- Uneducated poor — declining civic competence and social unrest
- Provinces declare independence — loss of central authority and political fragmentation
- Civil wars — political instability weakened the state
- 1/3 population enslaved — reliance on slave labor hurt economic innovation and social mobility
- Food rations and entertainment ("bread and circuses") — government bought off the populace instead of solving problems
- Wealthy concentrated to few — economic inequality and tax shortfalls

External factors
- Attacks from Germanic tribes — barbarian invasions and pressure on Rome’s borders