HANDOUT FOR DEC. 5: THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE
Chronology:
9 AD: Roman expansion in Europe stops. Permanent frontiers at Rhine and Danube.
98: Tacitus writes Germania.
284-305: Reign of Diocletian. He begins practice of dividing empire among co-rulers.
Fourth century: more civil wars. Roman army begins recruiting Germans to replace battle casualties.
354-430: Life of Augustine.
364-375: Valentinian emperor in west.
364-378: Valens emperor in east.
378: Roman army defeated at Adrianople by Goths.
395: Death of Theodosius I. Roman empire formally (and finally) divided into eastern and western halves under Arcadius and Honorius.
406: Vandals, Sueves, and others cross Rhine into Gaul.
410: Rome sacked by Goths under Alaric. Augustine begins writing City of God.
418: Goths settle in Aquitania (southern Gaul).
426: Augustine finishes City of God.
429-439: Vandals conquer North Africa.
451: Attila the Hun defeated at battle of Catalaunian Fields.
455: Rome sacked again, by Vandals.
476: Last western emperor, Romulus Augustulus ("little Augustus") deposed by Germanic warlord Odoacer.