Is American the latter day Roman Empire?

Question

And if so who do you think will be playing the fiddle if and or when it burns down?

I’ve heard people make that comparison before; I’m just interested in what you think. Are we getting too powerful and just wantonly taking control of everything by Eminent Domain in other countries or do we have a duty to reform these backward countries so they think and act more like we do? Is this wrong?

Answer 1

This analogy has been used for virtually every major Western power since Rome fell. The comparisons are obvious since, 1) The Roman Empire itself is responsible for much of what we call Western culture, so it is not surprising that we would find similarities between modern western nations and the nation that helped to create them.
2) Rome is the most powerful western nation (in relative terms) that has ever existed. When a nation becomes powerful, it is natural for it to compare itself to nations from the same culture that have come before it. I'm sure that if Iraq were a superpower instead of the U.S., it would be comparing itself to Babylon and not Rome.
3) All powerful nations behave in an expansive manner, Rome just happens to be the most powerful example in western culture.

There are some unique similarities between the U.S. and Rome, chief of which is their status as lone superpowers without rival. However, that status won't last much longer for the U.S., as China and the E.U. will emerge as legitimate superpowers in the next few decades.

Often it is noted that the U.S. does not, and has not, annexed another nation into it's own empire. While this is technically true, it is somewhat naive. The U.S. does not often achieve actual physical control of a nation, but it does achieve economic conquest of other nations. You could compare the westward expansion of the 1800's and the conquest of the indian tribes to the Roman expansion and conquest of the germanic tribes. You would also do well to remember the conquests achieved by the U.S. during their wars with Spain and Mexico.

Answer 2

The Roman Empire, for many centuries, controlled the vast majority of the known world through fear, conquering, domination, and sheer force of will. They had a national pride that has only been rivalled by the Nazis over the past millenium, and they had the numbers to take down virtually any army that would stand against them.

There are comparisons that can be made between the current U.S. and the Roman Empire. Size of military, overall power among the worlds leadership, etc... but the major distinction is that we have not, since the early 1800's, in any way attempted to directly control another area of the world. We have influenced, sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better, many areas, but never taken them by force. The situation in Iraq, whether you believe the governments reasons or not, is not in any way an attempt to take territory, though it MIGHT be an attempt to control certain resources... I'll let you decide that.

Nevertheless, we have not attempted to conquer anything other than a peaceful landscape in a couple centuries... I think that blows away any comparison to Rome.

Answer 3

This is inevitable but It would appear that this could be happening right now as reflected in history (of course the shortest one was Hitler's Third Reich which was supposed to last a "thousand years" and lasted six
Rome imploded because of low morality,greed and economical problems.
The empire of Genghis Khan, one of the reasons because they were trying to maintain their empire on too many fronts.
The Holy Roman Empire became overwhelmed by faith and decadence.
The British Empire fell due to economics but more so due to changing times. Because of the w.w.II, people of the Empire had their eyes opened to other possibilities.
The American Empire is overreaching and does not react to correcting problems it creates Unfortunately, some in the U.S. are too confident to see the forest for the trees and are loathe to accept advice.

Answer 4

Well, no civilization will ever trump the Roman empire. It was and to this day remains the greatest most fabulous era that ever was or ever will be. However, I think that our civilization has many things in common with the ancient Romans, except for one thing.... we are far stupider than they were. And no one works hard that's for damn sure. Everything is handed to us and why? becuz we're a bunch of freakin' retards. Survival of the fittest no longer applies. Thanks to advances in modern medicine it has gone over to survival of the stupidest. When we finally do burn it will probably be George W. who is playing the fiddle. And yes, he will probably be to blame for the fire as well.

Answer 5

what's a "favourite Christian"? maximum Christians enroll in the tenets of the Protestant Reformation and believe in the multiple creeds, the Trinity, and so on. Mormons reject a number of those beliefs, maximum fairly the Trinity. Mormons have a deeper understand of the nature of the God the daddy, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. we do not believe them to be the all-in-one which the Trinity specifies/ i'd say it isn't available to believe in the tenets of the Protestant Reformation and be a Mormon. multiple the beliefs are together incompatible. Mormons do not remember on scripture in ordinary words, Bible inerrant, the Trinity as defined by using the Council of Constantinople.

Answer 6

Its possible, there is one reason and one reason only for the decline of the Roman empire and it was Liberalism.

They went from a hard working, moral people with a strong national defense (and often offense) that became a lazy, rely on the government, weak people.

Answer 7

The American people will be playing the fiddle. America's burning and what are we doing about it? Whining.

Answer 8

Nope

Answer 9

its the same pattern that repeats itself since the beginning of time...the romans...the british...now the united states

Answer 10

No!!! But Great Britain and all European countries are!!!!