Many different problems lead to the split of the Roman empire. One issue was there was no way switch power after an emperor died. Another problem was that Rome had its people pay a lot of taxes which pained the economy. Lastly, the huge size of the empire made it hard to protect.

In 330 C.E. emperor Constantine moved his capital east 850 miles. The city was called Byzantium, but he changed the name to New Rome, and later the name changed again to Constantinople. By doing this Constantine changed Rome's future. Because after he died the power over the empire was split into two empires. It was divided east and west, Rome was in the western part. In the west the empire lost all their power and the empire slowly discipated into separate kingdoms. The east lived on another 1,000 years long-term result is that today the empire is named after the original capital city, Byzantium.

Frey, Wendy, History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond, Palo Alto, CA, Teachers' Curriculum Institute, 2005