Thoughts and Reflections on Why Rome Fell

Ryan Otto

Period 6

Thoughts and Reflections on: Why Rome Fell

5/6/14

     Rome was, without a doubt, one of the greatest empire in history. With the (by today's standards) limited technology they had, the Romans were able to create heated baths, paved roads, and a postal service that would not be rivaled until the invention of the railroad. In addition, Rome had one of the best organized and most tactically brilliant militaries in history. But eventually, as all empires do, Rome one antibody crumbled. This was the culmination of many factors. First, there was an economic crisis in Rome. This was the result of the gross over taxation of the middle class. Indeed, the taxes were so harsh that they effectively ended the middle class altogether, forcing many people in to destitution. These taxes were in part to pay for the luxuries of the wealthy. It is estimated that Rome spent what would equate to several million dolloars annually on expensive and unnecessary imports from the East. In addition to these outrageous expenses, Rome did not have very many exports to offer. These taxes, as they always do, caused quite a bit of civil unrest among the majority of the Roman people. Another thing which led to Rome's downfall was the constant assault of various barbarian tribes. Since these tribes were a) largely independent from one another and b) primarily nomadic, the Roman military could not simply march to a fixed point on the map and wipe out their opponents as they did task many others. Yet another factor in the fall of Rome was the plague which came from the East, raveging both soldiers and civilians alike. It is estimated that this plague wiped out at least a quarter of Rome's population. The culmination of these three things was too much for the empire to bare. Like every empire before and after it, Rome fell. There were of course other factors which played into it, and the real cause of Rome's downfall is still hotly debated today, but it is certain that all three of these things had at least something to do with Rome's collapse. 

Letter to Lucius

Ryan Otto

World History 1

Ms. Mitchell

May 5, 2014

Letter to Lucius

Dear Lucius, 

     After visiting Rome, I have found myself seriously debating whether to move there. With the direction the United States is heading in, Ancient Rome doesn't look like such a bad option. For one thing I like the idea of living in the city. Right now I'm living in Boulder, which although nice, doesn't have the urban feel which I'm looking for. I also like the idea of having indentured servants to look after my every need. Right now I have to eat without any help. Here in the U.S., people's wealth is represented by where they live and what kind of car they drive, rather than their bath or their slaves. The educational system there might take a bit of getting used to, but how hard cam learning Latin and Greek really be? On that note, I'm not really sure how I would do with the whole teaching my kids how to fight and swim thing. Is there any way I could get around that? Maybe like pay a coach or something? Another thing which attracts me is the life expectancy in your empire. As an introvert I'm not so big on people, and that goes double for children. I must admit that there is something rather alluring in the thought of having half the kids I know and probably dislike drop dead before the age of fifteen. Another thing that Rome has over the U.S. is the whole coming of age at fifteen deal you guys have going on. The age restrictions here can be a major inconvenience, especially when a cop pulls you over and confiscates your fake id. You wouldn't believe how common that is here. But I digress. I must say I'm not too keen on your empire's position on marriage. Here in the U.S. it is far more common for people to choose their own spouse as opposed to having a marriage arranged for them by their parents. The military on the other hand is something I could really get behind. In fact, the military aspect of life might not be so different than it is here in America. You know, other than the bit where a seventeen-year-old with no previous training is qualified to lead a legion into battle simply because of his socio-economic status. The baths probably wouldn't be so bad either. Where I live baths are less of an affair. In fact, most people prefer to simply get in the shower. But something about getting a massage after a long soak appeals to me. As long as I can get used to wearing a tunic instead of a T-shirt and hoodie, adjusting should be easy. If I do decide to move to Rome, I'll be sure to look you up. Until then, vale.

Post Script: Tell your brother congrats on his coming of age ceremony.  

Is Edward Snowden a Modern Day Socrates?

     Socrates is best known for being the father of modern thought. He presented new and radical ideas and would frequently question both the Athenian government and the Athenian way of life. In the end, he was sentenced to death for putting forth his views in such a vocal and uncompromising manner. Edward Snowden is in a similar position, being punished for firmly standing up for what he believes in. But the comparison between the two stops there. Their methods, values, and goals are entirely different. First of all. Socrates never fled from punishment. On the contrary, he welcomed death. Once Snowden felt his mission was complete, he left for greener pastures where the U.S. could not lay their hands on him. Next, Socrates never exposed any sort of scandal. He questioned the core values which his government was based upon. On the other hand, Snowden says that he firmly believes in the constitution of his nation and only seeks to protect it. Socrates accumulated the dislike of his government over time by constantly criticizing it and trying to turn others against it while Snowden openly leaked classified information to the people. In order to make a strong comparison to Socrates, one can not simply say that the two are similar because they have incurred the wrath of their respective nations. While their is some vague similarity between the actions of these two people, it is far to broad to start calling Snowden a modern day Socrates. 

Not Guilty

     In this trial, the burden of proof rests solely upon the prosecution. They needed to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that Edward Snowden was guilty. Given the scarce amount of evidence provided as to his guilt, it is impossible to fairly charge him with such a strong accusation as treason. Furthermore, the prosecution failed to refute the defense's point regarding Supreme Court precedent. Though the trial was very close, there was far too much grey area left to reasonably convict Snowden of any of these charges. 

Modern Day Socrates Activity

   
 It is common knowledge that Socrates would go around pestering the people of Athens to think differently. Yet what was he hoping to achieve by this? Socrates wanted those around him to begin to think more logically and to recognize the problems in their society. In this respect, Socrates is very similar to Bill Waterson, creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. William "Bill" Waterwon II was born in Washington D.C. in 1958 where he lived for the first six years of his life before moving to Ohio. Waterson first began writing writing comics at the age of eight, when he aspired to become a cartoonist akin to Charles Schulz. In 1976, he went to Kenyon College where he earned a bachelor degree in political science. On November 18th, 1885, Waterson's beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes made its debut. The comic was noticed quickly and was soon featured in news papers nation wide. The popularity of Calvin and Hobbes was in large part due to its address of the problems which plague American culture. These ranged from materialism to self-absorption to an obsession with the media. Waterson presented all these issues in a fairly happy light, all from the perspective of a hyper intelligent six year old boy and his stuffed tiger. This premise allows for a nuanced address of serious problems in the U.S. while remaining humorous and accessible to a younger audience. This method seems fairly effective in getting the message across as it allows audiences of all ages to understand it. Through this approach, Bill Waterson asks his readers to closely examine their lifestyle and remember that there is more to life than consumerism. 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=copI0cM2e1Q

Panel Discussion Question

Would further precautions to ensure the safety of citizens in the event of a flood be practical, or would it be considered a drain on resources?

2,000 year war thoughts and reflections

     Despite the constant change of technology, it is an accepted fact that history constantly repeats itself. This is no more apparent then when comparing the Cold War to the Peloponnesian War. The Cold War was the infamous time when the United States and Soviet Union were desperately fighting for control without ever engaging in open warfare. In the Peloponnesian War, one also sees two massive powers fighting for control, each with drastically different styles of government. The lesson which the the US and USSR could have benefitted from is that one should always be careful not to overextend their power. It is essential for both powers to look to this lesson from history in order to avoid the disasters wrought by the Peloponnesian War.