Comparisons of Rome/America Based Off City of God

The Inevitable Fall Titus Livius stated, “Rome has grown since its humble beginnings that it is now overwhelmed by its own greatness”. From humble beginnings as a small village republic, Rome grew into a massive empire through military dominance. However, the power Rome gained eventually lead to its fall, as citizens quickly became accustomed to the leisure that comes with being a hegemony, and in 410 AD, Rome itself was sacked by a primitive tribe of barbarians, the Visigoths. Just as Rome suffered a surprising and shocking defeat in 410, another great empire was attacked by a group of “barbarians” in 2001. After Rome was routed, its stunned citizens searched for something to blame, and the widespread consensus was the blame of Christianity. Augustine, a theologian, dedicated thirteen years of his life to refuting this idea, blaming the collapse of Rome on the selfishness, leisure, and the skewed morals that Romans had developed, in his writing, The City of God. Just as Augustine’s writing was relevant to Romans in 410 AD, his writings are equally applicable to Americans today in that the empire’s morals had collapsed, its citizens had become infatuated with entertainment and worldly pleasures, and launched wars for selfish reasons in efforts to regain self security. In The City of God, Augustine points out the decay of Roman morals. He cites that as the Roman Empire increased in power, it found itself compromising itself by adjusting its original intent and ethics. When speaking of the moral collapse of Rome, Augustine states that “It was incomprehensible to him that a republic’s defenses could be mighty while its morals would be in ruins” (Augustine). While Rome was still the dominant military power in the world in 410, the citizens indulged completely in self gratification. This point is also prevalent in modern day America. Today, the strict moral guidelines and beliefs of America’s founding fathers are in many ways completely estranged from the morals of modern America. While since its founding, the U.S. has gained much international power and its “defenses” are in fact “mighty”, the morals of the country have collapsed. From the perspective of the founding fathers, and even according to many Americans still living, the “morals” are truly “in ruins”; most Americans now accept what centuries ago would have been unthinkable (gay marriage, abortion, etc.). The shift in morality that Augustine alludes to in Ancient Rome is clearly occurring in post 9/11 (and pre 9/11 for that matter) America. Another item that Augustine claimed contributed to the fall of Rome and can also be applied to post 9/11 America was the population’s radical obsession to entertainment. Addressing this, Augustine claims that Romans were “men who are infatuated by worldly pleasure… crowding theatres and places of entertainment… seek (ing) luxury and pleasure” (Augustine). This quote showcased the vanity of the Roman Empire: even when Rome was freshly sacked, the citizens did little but swarm the amphitheatres and coliseums. This point is similarly prevailing in modern America. All year long, professional sports are played, and millions of people will watch a given game. Thousands of fans pack “theatres and places of entertainment” such as college football stadiums every weekend. Entertainment, especially sports, has clearly become an obsession for U.S. citizens. America has followed the example of Rome, almost exactly, caring more for “worldly pleasures” such as entertainment than seemingly more important matters, such as the economy or the state of foreign countries. This counsel given by Augustine to the Romans centuries ago is still pertinent to post 9/11 America. Augustine also warns the Romans of their misguided desires for peace, which can also be applied to America after 9/11. While citing reasons for Rome’s fall, Augustine states “What you desire in the restoration of peaceful and secure country is not the goodness and justice for the country but the security of your own wealth and luxury” (Augustine). By 410 AD, the average Roman was completely fixated on leisure and ease alone. While America has not quite reached this point, wars have still been started for questionable and selfish reasons. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the U.S. invaded Iraq and Afghanistan in attempts to secure their “wealth and luxury”. Over six thousand Americans gave the ultimate sacrifice to this cause. Yet America does and cares little about this war on the home front. Very few citizens have distinctly changed their lifestyle in the least after 9/11, displaying the lack of dedication to the wars. Post 9/11 Americans are in favor of war as long as it protects their wealth, and doesn’t hinder their leisurely ways. Americans care not for the “goodness and justice” of wars, but only the “security of… leisure and ease alone”. This worldview has the U.S. walking a dangerous road, one that led to the fall of a similar hegemony, Rome. The points Augustine attributes to the fall of the Roman Empire transcend time and space barriers, fitting the situation America now finds itself like a long lost puzzle piece. His claims about the laziness, addiction to entertainment, and selfish actions experienced in the Rome in 410 AD apply directly to America fifteen hundred years later. Based on these assertions and how they directly influenced the fall of Rome, the United States of America is clearly not in an enviable position after 9/11. The citizens have given themselves over to self indulgence, craving the benefits and gratifications of this life, going against the worldview taught by Augustine. Both of these two great empires started from humble beginnings, growing into powerful hegemonies. However, the benefits due to a hegemony ultimately lead to its fall. Hegemonies are truly defeated by their own greatness and power.