How likely is it that lead pipes destroyed the Roman Empire?

Question

Be specific.

Answer 1

Historians have been arguing that very question it seems their wines had a high level of lead too. It is believed it affected their decision making ability along with affecting their quality of life. In fact it is believed that might have been Nero problem.

Great question. God Bless You and The Southern People.

Answer 2

Completely unlikey. The Roman Empire in fact was never destroyed, at least in the east... after Diocletion divided the empire into east and west, the eastern half continued for another thousand years, though now centred on Constantinople.

The western Roman Empire gradually declined because of Germanic invasions and settlements and the inablility of Roman authority to contain these new peoples.

Bit by bit the western Roman Empire gradually fizzled out. Forget lead pipes, 99.9% of the population of the Roman Empire did NOT have access to them.

Answer 3

Pretty unlikely.

Yes they used lead pipes and yes ingesting lead through your drinking water won't do your health any favours at all but to blame the fall of the Roman Empire on lead pipes is just a screwy conspiracy theory.

People have used lead pipes throughout history.

Answer 4

Highly dubious that leaded pipes would have destroyed the Empire. It succumed due to loss of manpower brought on by plaugues of, currently unknown, disease (Bubonic Plaugue is a modern favorite though Dysentary, Influenza, etc are good ideas as well) which in turn lead to massive death levels which hampered production of food, weapons and the ability of the survivors to protect themselves from their enemies both inside and outside the borders of the empire. While the lead would have caused physiological issues it isn't to blame. I wouldn't even deem it a contribution factor to destruction.

Lead pipes would have strongly helped the spread of the Empire due to the ability to transport massive quantities of water, via the aquaducts, to the settled towns driving up populations (and production ability) along with improving citizens lives (toilets, baths, clean water to drink and cook with, etc.). It would also have encouraged the "barbarians" to become civilized so that they could partake of such "wonders" of civilization.

Answer 5

Not likely. Most of the Aqua duct system was not made of lead. Also since children are very susceptible to lead poisoning, there is no record of a high infant mortality rate at the time. The Romans were smart enough to have identified poisoning and identity its source at the time.

Answer 6

Highly unlikely.

This is in very simplistic terms by the way.

The main points for the decline and fallof thr Roman Empire were;

1. bad emperors
2. increasing civilization of the people of the empire (which means weaker soldiers)
3. Roman disunity, endless infighting
4. economic decline
5. plagues
6. mass migration
7. and the settlement of the Visigoths in Moesia

Answer 7

I don't think so. I'm sure they ingested lead in unhealthy quantities because of their cups and plumbing etc., but that doesn't mean it destroyed their society. After all, tobacco use hasn't ended our society-people die from it but life goes on.

Answer 8

Because lead is toxic when ingested. That's why we don't have lead paint anymore, and our gas is unleaded.

Answer 9

actually lead drinking cups...............