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Why do Empires Collapse?

Driving Question: What are the most important factors leading to the collapse of empires?

Empires always fall—but how and why depends on leaders’ choices and the challenges they face. By comparing different collapses, we can uncover the biggest causes of chaos and see what they reveal about the past, the present, and the future.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Analyze historical narratives of collapse and evaluate how they might shape our understanding of today’s societies.
  2. Evaluate the legacy and collapse of the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire.
  3. Use the historical thinking practice of causation to understand how and why societies collapse.

Vocab Terms:

  • administrative
  • barbarian
  • catastrophe
  • decline
STEP 1

Opener: Why do Empires Collapse?

STEP 2

Empires Collapse

How do empires collapse? Invasion, lack of money, and internal challenges are three major reasons, as many ancient empires discovered.

STEP 3

Fall of Roman and Han Empires

Get ready to dig into the remains of some of history’s greatest empires. In the next set of materials, you’ll explore how even the most powerful political forces can falter.

STEP 4

Closer: Why do Empires Collapse?

Extension Materials
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Use this pre-writing activity to put your claims in logical order, and then choose transition words to bring it all together. 
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Patterns of Collapse

Collapse can strike any civilization, anywhere. Challenge your thinking with these materials on how and why societies fall.

Collapse! External link

Sometimes, things go wrong. Explore the causes and consequences of collapse to try to answer important questions about our past and future.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.