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.