Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

The Downfall of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire represented the greatest power and civilization in ancient history. Rome rose to such heights from a combination of superior military, political, and economic prowess. Ironically, it would be these same elements that would eventually cause the downfall of the Roman Empire. As Edward Gibbon maintains in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ôàthe decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and, as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weightö (Gill 1). Theories abound as to the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire, including everything from lead poisoning to the rise of Christianity. In fact, it is generally felt that a combination of factors brought about the collapse of the Roman Empire. This analysis will explore some of the most significant factors in the downfall of the Roman Empire.

Without doubt, the sheer size of the Roman Empire due to continual conquest and expansion helped lead to its demise. Once Rome became a vast empire, one of the biggest challenges was maintaining conquered lands, especially those furthest removed from Rome. Conquered lands on the outskirts of the Empire were more vulnerable to attack by the Huns, Vandals, and other barbarians. Many Romans loyal to the realm in these regions preferred to adopt the ways of locals. RomeÆs leadership became weak over time, including warring factions within the government and military and Emperors who were ineffectual in leadership. Such internal stresses added to the depletion of resources needed to maintain conquered lands. As Elton argues, ôThe frequent occasions on which the Roman army was forced to defend itself caused a constant drain of resources, both financial and personnel, resources that might ...

Page 1 of 5 Next >

More on The Downfall of the Roman Empire...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
The Downfall of the Roman Empire. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:31, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1710801.html