Fall of the Western Roman Empire

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fall-of-the-western-roman-empire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of deposition?476 AD marks the deposition of the last Western Roman Emperor
2. What is the last emperor?Romulus Augustulus was deposed by Odoacer
3. What caused the Western Roman Empire to fall?A mix of internal problems like weak government, heavy taxes, and slow communication, plus outside attacks from groups like the Visigoths and Vandals, made the empire collapse.
4. Why did the Roman army struggle against the barbarians?The army had to defend long borders, used many soldiers from outside Rome, and could not keep up with fast-moving groups that were fleeing from other places like the Huns.

Tetrarchy: A system of rule by four emperors, implemented by Diocletian to manage the vast Roman Empire.
Latifundia: Large agricultural estates in ancient Rome, often worked by slaves, which became increasingly dominant.
Historiography: The study of the writing of history, including how historical events are interpreted and debated by scholars.