Elagabalus
who forces a Vestal Virgin into marriage,
Commodus with his harems
of concubines who enraged Romans by sitting in the theatre
dressed in a woman's garments.
The decline in morals
also
effected the lower classes and slaves. Religious festivals
such as Saturnalia and Bacchanalia where sacrifices, ribald
songs, lewd acts and sexual promiscuity were practised.
Bestiality and other lewd and sexually explicit acts were
exhibited in the Colosseum arena to amuse the mob. Brothels
and forced prostitution flourished. Widespread gambling on
the chariot races and gladiatorial combats. Massive
consumption of alcohol. The sadistic cruelty towards both
man and beasts in the arena.
Q.
Reason why the Roman Empire fell?
Decline in
Morals
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Political Corruption and
the Praetorian Guard
The power of the
Praetorian Guard,
the elite bodyguards of the emperor, led to political
corruption and grew to such an extent that this
massive troop of soldiers decided on whether an emperor
should be disposed of and who should become the new emperor!
The story of
Sejanus, who was the commander of the Praetorian Guard
during the reign of
Tiberius, illustrates the extent of their power. At one
point the Praetorian Guard sold at auction the throne of the
world to the highest bidder.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell? Political Corruption and the
Praetorian Guard
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Fast expansion of the
Empire
The rapid growth of the Empire led to the need to defend the
borders and territories of Rome. The people of the conquered
lands, most of whom were referred to as Barbarians, hated
the Romans. Taxes on the foreigners were high and constantly
increased. Frequent rebellions arose.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Fast
expansion of the Empire
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Constant Wars and Heavy
Military Spending
Constant warfare required heavy military spending. The Roman
army became over-stretched. The barbarians, who had been
conquered, and other foreign mercenaries were allowed to
join the Roman army.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell? Constant Wars and Heavy Military
Spending
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Barbarian Knowledge of
Roman Military Tactics
The knowledge that the Barbarians gained of Roman warfare
and military tactics by serving in the Roman army were
eventually turned against the Empire and led to the sack of
Rome by the Visigoths led by an ex-army soldier Alaric.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Barbarian
Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Failing Economy
The Government was constantly threatened by bankruptcy. The
cost of defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy
taxation and high inflation was another reason why the Roman
Empire fell. The majority of the inhabitants of the Roman
Empire failed to share in the incredible prosperity of Rome.
The flow of gold to the orient to pay for luxury goods led
to a shortage of gold to put in Roman coins. Roman currency
was devalued to such an extent that a system of bartering
returned to one of the greatest civilisations the world had
ever known.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Failing
Economy
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Unemployment of the
Working Classes (The Plebs)
Cheap slave labor in turn resulted in the unemployment of
the the people of Rome who became dependent on hand-outs
from the state. The Romans attempted a policy of
unrestricted trade but this led to working class Romans
being unable to compete with foreign trade. The government
were therefore forced to subsidize the working class Romans
to make up the differences in prices. This resulted in
thousands of Romans choosing just to live on the subsides
sacrificing their standard of living with an idle life of
ease. The massive divide between the rich and the poor
increased still further.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Unemployment
of the Working Classes (The Plebs)
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - The 'Mob' and the cost of
the 'Games'
If the thousands of unemployed Romans became bored this led
to civil unrest and rioting in the streets. The 'Mob' needed
to be amused - the gladiatorial games had to be provided.
The cost of the gladiatorial games was born by the Emperors,
and therefore the state, and corrupt politicians who
sponsored the games to curry favor and support with the
'Mob'. The cost of the gladiatorial games eventually came to
one third of the total income of the Empire.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
The 'Mob'
and the cost of the 'Games'
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Decline in Ethics and
Values
Life became cheap - bloodshed led to more bloodshed and
extreme cruelty. The values, the ideals, customs, traditions
and institutions, of the Romans declined. The basic
principles, standards and judgments about what was valuable
or important in life also declined. The total disregard for
human and animal life resulted in a lack of ethics - a
perverted view of what was right and wrong, good and bad,
desirable and undesirable. Any conformity to acceptable
rules or standards of human behaviour were being lost.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Decline in
Ethics and Values
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Slave Labor
The number of slaves increased dramatically during the first
two centuries of the Roman Empire. The Roman's dependency on
slave labor led not only to the decline in morals, values
and ethics but also to the stagnation of any new technology
to produce goods more efficiently. Romans could rely on
slave power for all their needs, and this reliance inhibited
technological change and growth. The terrible treatment of
slaves led to rebellion and several Servile (Slave) Wars,
the most famous being the revolt led by Spartacus. In the
later centuries of the Empire and the advent of Christianity
the attitudes towards slaves changed. With manumission (the
act of freeing a slave) the number of slaves declined
together with the manpower that Rome depended upon.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Slave Labor
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Natural Disasters
During the time of the Roman Empire there were not only
foreign wars, civil wars, street fights, fires and revolts
there were also natural disasters such as plagues, famines
and earthquakes. As in all periods and societies the people
looked for someone to blame and different religions to turn
to.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell? Natural Disasters
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Christianity
Christianity - Life and the future seemed hopeless for the
millions who were ruled by Rome where an early death was
almost inevitable. Christianity taught the belief in an
afterlife which gave hope and courage to the desperate.
Eventually a Roman Emperor,
Constantine the Great, proclaimed himself a Christian
and issued an edict promising the Christians his favor and
protection. Attitudes in the Roman Empire changed from being
antagonistic to becoming pacifistic.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell?
Christianity
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - Barbarian Invasion
Rome
had fierce foreign enemies.
There were great Barbarian armies consisting of warriors
such as the Visigoths, Huns and the Vandals. The final death
blow to the Roman Empire was inflicted by these Barbarians.
The city of Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and by
the Vandals in 455 signalling the disintegration of Roman
authority and the Fall of the Roman Empire.
Q. Reason
why the Roman Empire fell? Barbarian Invasion
Reason why the Roman Empire fell - The Ancient City of Rome
So
what became of the Ancient City of Rome? The final
destruction Rome occurred in 537 AD during a siege on Rome
by the Goths. The aqueducts which supplied Rome with water
were destroyed. The people of Rome could not survive without
water and the population of Rome fell by 90%.
