Analytical Essay
Decline and Fall of Rome
History of Western Civilization 1 HIEU 201
April 11, 2013
Professor Philip Brown
History of Western Civilization 1 HIEU 201
April 11, 2013
Decline and Fall of Rome When you think of Rome, you think of a super power that rose from a small civilization into an Empire that stretched from Italy down to North Africa. Over the time period of 500 years, the leaders of Rome conquered city by city to reach their greatness. Though it took 500 years for Rome to accomplish this task, it took only 100 years for it to fall. During those 100 years, Rome would be plagued with economic turmoil, inner betrayal, social issues, and a diminishing military. When Marcus Aurelius died in A.D. 180, the Empire was politically stable economically prosperous, and militarily secure, (Perry, 2009). The class presentation stated that after the Pax Romana was ended, the deterioration of Rome’s army was the start of the fall of Rome. This allowed for the Germanic tribes to conduct invasions on Rome. The presentation informs us that through these consistent invasions, Rome’s economy begun to dwindle and the government could not support a military that was needed to defend its Empire. The bad part of this was that Rome allowed the Germanic tribes to exist within their territories, but they did not account for the strength of these tribes. According to Perry (2009), during the third century there was a marked deterioration in the quality of Roman soldiers. In A.D 410, Vistagoths pushed through the western part of the empire and a new Emperor was seated. Because the Western Empire was controlled by Barbarians, the Eastern Empire decided not to try and retake the city. Williams and Friell, (1994), pointed out how the Roman Empire should disregard to the ethnic origins and did not allow them to participate within the Roman political system. The uprising of the Barbarian people was caused by the lack of respect that was given to them by the Roman Empire. These
History of Western Civilization 1 HIEU 201
April 11, 2013
Professor Philip Brown
History of Western Civilization 1 HIEU 201
April 11, 2013
Decline and Fall of Rome When you think of Rome, you think of a super power that rose from a small civilization into an Empire that stretched from Italy down to North Africa. Over the time period of 500 years, the leaders of Rome conquered city by city to reach their greatness. Though it took 500 years for Rome to accomplish this task, it took only 100 years for it to fall. During those 100 years, Rome would be plagued with economic turmoil, inner betrayal, social issues, and a diminishing military. When Marcus Aurelius died in A.D. 180, the Empire was politically stable economically prosperous, and militarily secure, (Perry, 2009). The class presentation stated that after the Pax Romana was ended, the deterioration of Rome’s army was the start of the fall of Rome. This allowed for the Germanic tribes to conduct invasions on Rome. The presentation informs us that through these consistent invasions, Rome’s economy begun to dwindle and the government could not support a military that was needed to defend its Empire. The bad part of this was that Rome allowed the Germanic tribes to exist within their territories, but they did not account for the strength of these tribes. According to Perry (2009), during the third century there was a marked deterioration in the quality of Roman soldiers. In A.D 410, Vistagoths pushed through the western part of the empire and a new Emperor was seated. Because the Western Empire was controlled by Barbarians, the Eastern Empire decided not to try and retake the city. Williams and Friell, (1994), pointed out how the Roman Empire should disregard to the ethnic origins and did not allow them to participate within the Roman political system. The uprising of the Barbarian people was caused by the lack of respect that was given to them by the Roman Empire. These
Cited: Perry, Marvin. Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society. Volume 1: 1789. Tenth Edition. Boston, MA. 2009 Roman Empire. Liberty University Online Blackboard. Liberty University. Williams, Stephen & Friell, Gerald, Friends, Romans or Countrymen? Barbarians in the Empire. ProQuest. History Today, 25 June 2012: 34. Print.