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The Roman Empire - The Death of Rome
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The Biggest Reasons The Roman Empire Fell
©José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Morality Tale >
Some still implausibly try to tie Rome’s decline with a moral decline due to Christianity, which was pretty prudish and restrained compared to the amorous indulgences of earlier emperors such as Caligula or Nero. They argue that this restrained lifestyle led to less investment in the Empire. However, the number of wealthy Christians was nothing compared to the number of corrupt Imperial bureaucrats.
Some still implausibly try to tie Rome’s decline with a moral decline due to Christianity, which was pretty prudish and restrained compared to the amorous indulgences of earlier emperors such as Caligula or Nero. They argue that this restrained lifestyle led to less investment in the Empire. However, the number of wealthy Christians was nothing compared to the number of corrupt Imperial bureaucrats.
©Phillip Capper, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
< The Decline And Fall Of Population
While some theories are still criticized, a steep drop in population seems real. The city of Rome may have housed a million people in its classical heyday before dropping to just 6,000 in the sixth century. It’s hard to know if fertility was pushed down by a richer lifestyle, plagues, skirmishes, or lead poisoning.
While some theories are still criticized, a steep drop in population seems real. The city of Rome may have housed a million people in its classical heyday before dropping to just 6,000 in the sixth century. It’s hard to know if fertility was pushed down by a richer lifestyle, plagues, skirmishes, or lead poisoning.
©Jebulon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
©Jebulon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
The Lessons Of Time
We may never really know why the Roman Empire collapsed. It seems to have been a slow process punctuated by occasional surprises. We all like a good story, but maybe Rome’s is a tale of how history isn’t always obvious—and that some lessons are learned too late.
We may never really know why the Roman Empire collapsed. It seems to have been a slow process punctuated by occasional surprises. We all like a good story, but maybe Rome’s is a tale of how history isn’t always obvious—and that some lessons are learned too late.
©Cesare Maccari, Wikimedia Commons
< Taking Its Toll
A century later, the ineptitude of most emperors combined with corruption among defense leaders was likely taking a toll. Aristocrats in the Senate had little interest in paying for fighters, and town councils despaired when local strongmen took power and property.
A century later, the ineptitude of most emperors combined with corruption among defense leaders was likely taking a toll. Aristocrats in the Senate had little interest in paying for fighters, and town councils despaired when local strongmen took power and property.
Early Depression >
Also, as the Empire’s expansion slowed, then reversed, a cheap supply of captives for the slave market greatly declined, with farming and manufacturing seriously affected. The economy may have slid into a depression two centuries before any “official” timeline of the Empire’s fall.
Also, as the Empire’s expansion slowed, then reversed, a cheap supply of captives for the slave market greatly declined, with farming and manufacturing seriously affected. The economy may have slid into a depression two centuries before any “official” timeline of the Empire’s fall.
< A Matter Of Geography
Further complicating the issue is that the Eastern Roman Empire shared many of the challenges that Rome faced in the West. What does look different is that Constantinople’s territories had a more protected geography, maybe encouraging the Huns and others to look elsewhere.
Further complicating the issue is that the Eastern Roman Empire shared many of the challenges that Rome faced in the West. What does look different is that Constantinople’s territories had a more protected geography, maybe encouraging the Huns and others to look elsewhere.
©FeaturedPics, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Courtesy: Peter Kinney msn/ Splash Travels 13.03.25 Paragon 20.03.25 16:05
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