C E D I B A C H I L L E R A T O G R A M M A R I

The Decline of the Roman Empire

Diego Antonio Martinez Garca 4A #11
Triola Jackson
3rd Partial Project
Research paper
Diego Antonio Martnez Garca 4A #11 08/03/14
Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
The Decline of The Western Roman Empire

For many years, the Roman Empire had vast domains in what today is known as
Europe or the Old World. During the Roman apogee their territories extended from
Finisterre to Garni, from the Pillars of Hercules to the mouth of Euphrates. The empire had
total control over the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman culture had its origin when
according to legend- Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus who became the first king.
The civilization went through many political, economical and cultural changes. First, it
began as a monarchy, then it transformed into a republic, and later ending in an empire. The
Roman splendor and glory lasted for more than 1000 years until the Pax Romana was
broken. Falling into a slippery slope, the Empire began its descent provoking the fall of
Rome in the year 476 AD and another millennium until the conquest of Constantinople.
The Roman Empire seemed to be an indestructible foundation; nevertheless, the break point
yielded. An important question with a non-nave answer rises, what caused the status quo
to be modified unobtrusively or spontaneously causing the decay of a splendorous
civilization? There are several factors such as religion, economical crisis or military
problems. Ergo, a unique cause for the decline of the Western Roman Empire cannot be
pointed out; instead, it was gradually propitiated by the accumulation of internal and
external factors.
The extension of the territory caused difficulties because it was enormous to be
reigned. The Roman Empire consisted on the conquest of different civilizations among the
three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. It had a surface of 5.7 millions squared meters.
According to the archeologist Percival Turnbull the Roman Empire included all the
lands bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, and reached far into northern Europe and the
Near East" (Turnbull, 2014). The Empire had a prompt expansion that grew over their
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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
borders, and it was very hard to defend them. All roads led to Rome, but it took weeks to
carry messages to the provinces. These provinces were the ones more affected by the
expansion, and it had to come a time when the growth stopped in exchange of protection.
The Hadrian Wall was a clear indicator. Mr. Keko, a historian, argues that The wall
symbolized the end of Roman expansion in exchange for a concentration on defense
(Keko, 2010). One ruler was not able to reign all over Mare Nostrum. As a result the
Emperor Diocletian decided to divide the Empire in Western and Eastern part. The Eastern
Realm thrived and it flourished into the byzantine civilization; however, the Western
Domain perished.
As it was mentioned before, the barbarian invasions ravaged the Roman provinces,
which weakened the Empire. Clashing with the Hadrian Wall, Picts, Scots and Saxons
constantly attacked the north area of what today is known as Great Britain. For many years
the invasions were repelled until in 410 A.D when Britain obtained its independence. On
the other side of the Empire, the Huns played an important roll in the decline of the Empire.
Attacking the eastern tribes of the Roman Empire, the Huns forced them to move farther to
the west as the Alerics and the Visigoths. This had repercussions in the stability of the
Empire. For example, Hispania (Iberian Peninsula) fell under the control of the Sueves,
Alans and Visigoths that were obligated to cross the Rhine. Moreover, led by King
Gaiseric, the Vandals took the Roman territories in Africa. In the end the barbarian tribes
weakened an Empire that was not able to defend himself against numerous foes.
The power of the Roman army began to decline. The Pax Romana provoked a state
of idleness in which soldiers were accustomed to doing nothing. When the time to defend
the Empire came, the soldiers were not well trained. Furthermore, the dignitaries reformed
the Roman army, giving more importance on speed than force. The once invincible legions
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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
were now easily defeated. Because the Roman citizens were not enough and there was a
lack of interest in volunteering to the army, Rome had to hire mercenaries in its place of
soldiers to protect their frontiers. These soldiers were less experienced and less trained to
be effective. Besides, they were more loyal to their own general than to the emperor. They
were easily persuaded to start rebellions against the Empire by their leaders. According to
the historian Jay King In A. D. 259, Tetricus, Emperor Valerian's capable general of the
legions on the Rhine, rebelled and established an Empire ruling Britain, Spain, and Gaul
(Modern France) (King, 2006). At the end, Tetricus gave up and Aurelius forgave him;
nevertheless the same example was spread all over the Empire. Noticeably, the Roman
army was very different to the one that conquered aforetime.
However, the generals were not the only ones that stuck to their own interests. The
Praetorian Guard became a powerful and influential force that was even over the Emperor.
Augustus Caesar the first Roman Emperor- established them as bodyguards of the
Emperors; nevertheless, having such power in their hands led the Praetorian Guard to
corruption. Furthermore, they were able to choose and depose the Emperors at their will.
For example, the emperors Nero, Balbinus, Pupienus, Probus and Pertinax were dethroned
by the Praetorian Guards; on the other hand, they elected Claudius and Marcus Aurelius.
Their power even allowed them to auction the throne. The historian Linda Alchin mentions
that Didius Julianus, offered about a huge bribe to each man for the possession of the prize
and was declared emperor (Alchin, 2008). Because their influence was detrimental, the
Emperor Constantine finally decided to end with an ineffective body guarding of the
emperors.
The mob was controlled by the use of the system bread and circuses; however,
once this method became ineffective, the mob manifested their discontent. Unemployment
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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
rate was very high. In addition, the taxes were very high to get the economy going. In order
to keep the people felicitous and avert any riot, the government had to apply measures to
entertain their citizens. As a result, the authority saw an excellent opportunity in the
promotion of chariot races gladiator fights, and free grain. Nonetheless, over time it became
very expensive to finance the games. Moreover, the droughts soared the grain prices and
impeded the free distribution. To make matters worse, the water used to irrigate became
stagnant and carried diseases such as malaria. The social discontent felt in the streets and
riots became more frequent. The Emperor found out that to the mob Panem et circenses, a
people upset meant riots and uprisings. It was very difficult for the regime to maintain all
its population pleased; for that reason, the uprisings increased.
The mismanagement of the Emperor led to a deep economical crisis that stalled the
progress of the Empire. The state of bankruptcy was unceasing. It was very expensive to
maintain and insufficient army that was not able to protect the Empire. For instance, the
Roman infrastructure was impressive, but at the same time it was very costly to maintain.
The building deteriorated and there was no money to repair them. The inflation was
increasing constantly and the lower class was the one more affected. Finally, the trade with
the eastern civilizations ended with the Roman gold, which was the currency used at the
time. The historian Linda Alchin mentions that Roman currency was devalued to such an
extent that a system of bartering returned to one of the greatest civilisations the world had
ever known (Alchin 2008). In other words, the mismanagement of the Roman economy
pauperized the civilization.
Christianity adopted as the Roman religion brought many opponents. All of the
followers of Christianity were prosecuted for more than three centuries until the Emperor
Constantine ended all persecution. With the tolerance of the Christianity, the Roman
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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
religious traditions were eliminated. As a result, the imperial cult ended, and the importance
of the Roman Emperor reduced. According to the site US History managed by the
Independence Hall Association Romans considered their emperor a god. But the Christian
belief in one god who was not the emperor weakened the authority and credibility of
the emperor (Fall of Roman Empire, 2014). The rise of Christianity induced disunity
between the Romans because the religion weakened the image of the emperor.
Evidence suggests that the decline of the Roman Empire was an event that happened
progressively because of several internal and external causes. The extension of the Empire
was enormous to be ruled by one Emperor, so it was decided to split it into two parts. This
way, the eastern area was favored while the western part was subjected to a time of
darkness. The foreigner tribes harassed and plundered the Empire; as an effect, provinces
were weakened. In order to defend from these clans, the Empire had to rely on the erstwhile
invincible Roman Army, but it was shown to be feeble because they were not able to
defend. Moreover the Praetorian Guard elite troops- diverted from its path; in its place,
they took advantage of the situation and they seized power. The unrest of the mob was
more evident because the government was not able to entertain them; as an effect, the
number of riots increased. The continuous invasions and the maintenance of the cities left
the Roman economy in a fragile state in which a state of bankruptcy was constant. Finally,
religion played an important role dividing society and ending with antique traditions. Alea
iacta est. Stopping the decline of the Roman Empire was something practically impossible
because it was uncertain when it really started. The deterioration of the civilization took
roots, and once that the plant had been discovered the seeds of destabilization had already
been spread. The Roman Empire was an advanced civilization; however, they gained power
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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
taking advantage of other cultures. At the end, the remaining cultures finished gradually
with their influence.

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Triola Jackson-Grammar Research Paper-The Decline of the Roman Empire
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