The fall of the Western Roman Empire
I can explain the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
The fall of the Western Roman Empire
I can explain the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
The fall of the Western Roman Empire happened when it was sacked in 410 CE.
The fall of the Western Roman Empire happened gradually over time.
To help you plan your year 4 history lesson on: The fall of the Western Roman Empire, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 history lesson on: The fall of the Western Roman Empire, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Romans: what did it mean to be a Roman? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
an area of land that is part of a country
a country where the leaders are elected
a large area ruled by an emperor
Exit quiz
6 Questions
economy
politics
military