Why did Rome fall?

Question

There are a number of theories that explain when and why Roman civilization declined. In your opinion how do you explain the decline of Rome?

Answer 1

Many people became Christians and non-violent. A lot of the money that was once used to maintain the Empire was now being used to build churches. There was a decline in morality and a lot of waste; including money. Alcohol use increased as did diseases due to poor sanitation methods and lead pipes used for water.

Answer 2

In ancient standards. It was too big to governed by a "not-so-good" emperor, also the main reason why the empire split into two, western and eastern (later, the Byzantine) which of course a declining step. Invasions by the barbarians in the Roman borders in Britain, Germany, Bulgaria, Middle East. And finally the sacking of Rome by the Vandals.

Answer 3

To me, Gibbon's "Decline and Fall" is the definitive work for the non-Latin reading student. Its largely a translation of documents, not his theory.

There's possibly a tendency for the reader to identify modern social problems in the fall when he or she finds them related by Gibbon. Nevertheless, I think these are the main ones Gibbon tells of:

1. Poor border security resulted in illegal immigration of the barbarians.
2. A multi-cultural society, especially true during the Byzantine phase of the collapse (1453), but even when the Huns arrived at Rome the division of the population along religious lines (Christian and pagan) proved disadvantageous. (The barbarians had already converted to Christianity.)
3. A political culture of partisanship and factionalism in Rome that destroyed political leadership from within.
4. An increasingly urbanized population that depended on government handouts for its livelihood. (The "bread and circuses" you may have heard of.)

Revisionists have it in for Gibbon but he was there first (1776, I believe) and translated the written record into English. I think the documents speak for themselves.

I feel there is much about the fall that can be blamed on the personal failings of individual rulers and their deputies. But given the protracted length of the decline, I think you should look beyond the use of the "great man" and ironic analyses of history.

Its hard to miss the similarities with us today and that, I think, is why Gibbon is out of favor.

Answer 4

They made the mistake of breaking their promises to the Visigoths, especially as it was in the middle of the Great Migrations. A classic case of a superpower not realizing that the balance of power had changed.

"The Goths remained in Dacia until 376, when one of their leaders, Fritigern, appealed to the Roman emperor Valens to be allowed to settle with his people on the south bank of the Danube. Here, they hoped to find refuge from the Huns. Valens permitted this. However, a famine broke out and Rome was unwilling to supply them with the food they were promised nor the land; open revolt ensued leading to 6 years of plundering and destruction throughout the Balkans, the death of a Roman Emperor and the destruction of an entire Roman army."

"Over the next 15 years, occasional conflicts were broken by years of uneasy peace between Alaric and the powerful German generals who commanded the Roman armies in the east and west, wielding the real power of the empire. Finally, after the western general Stilicho was murdered by Honorius in 408 and the Roman legions massacred the families of 30,000 barbarian soldiers serving in the Roman army, Alaric declared war. After four attempts to storm Rome, Alaric remained unsuccessful. He resolved to cut the city off by capturing its port. On 0410-08-24, however, a traitor or group of traitors within Rome opened the Salarian Gate, letting the Visigoths in. While Rome was no longer the official capital of the Western Roman Empire (it had been moved to Ravenna for strategic reasons), its fall severely shook the empire's foundations."

"Visigoths : Gothic War (376-382) & Alaric" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigoths#Gothic_War_.28376-382.29

Answer 5

There were several factors involved.

However one of main reasons was that its early days Rome had been very selfish of its power and civilization and did not easily bestow citizenship upon outsiders. Those who became Roman citizens were required to follow certain standards of behaviour and to follow roman law and basically to assimilate.

As time went on the powers that be decided to allow in just about anyone who wanted to come. Many of these outside groups did not assimilate and followed their own customs and traditions. As a result they did not feel a sense of loyalty to Rome and when other groups such as the Goths and Vandals attacked, they met with little resistance from the inhabitants. That's why Rome pulled its armies out of areas such as Britain in 410 A.D. in a last-ditch effort to save the heart of the empire. But it was too little too late.

(A good lesson to many modern countries who are currently following a similar pattern of behaviour.)

Answer 6

Rome was a perfect example of living life in excess, in every way possible.

Answer 7

it was to old looking