January 19, 2016

Mr. OConnor
Haben Araya
CHW 3M1

Why did Rome collapse?

By: Haben Araya

January 19, 2016

Mr. OConnor
Haben Araya
CHW 3M1

The Downfall of Rome

It is arguable that the Roman Empire was one of the most powerful dynasties ever.
However, what most do not know about Rome is that when Rome fell in 476 A.D only the
Western Empire collapsed. The reason for this is because of Diocletians demand to split Rome
since it was extremely hard for him to manage the entire Roman Empire. He decided that he
would split the land with Diocletian taking the east side of Rome and his good friend Maximian
taking the west side of Rome. The Eastern Roman Empire, which was eventually called the
Byzantine Empire fell nearly a thousand years after the Western Empire collapsed in 1453. This
essay will cover the reasons why Rome collapsed with supporting arguments such as the
invasion of Barbarian tribes such as the Huns and Goths, the rise of the Eastern Roman Empire
and military overspending.
An important reason for the collapsing of Rome is the rise of the Barbarians and the
Barbarians attacking the Romans. 1The Romans called themselves lords of the world. And so it
seemed they were. All the trade and skill, all the art and learning of the known world, were
theirs. Beyond the borders of the Roman Empire the world was given over to wild barbarians,
who were skilled neither in the arts of war nor of peace. That the civilization of Rome should go
down before their ignorance seemed impossible. Yet the barbarian triumphed, Rome fell, and the
mighty empire crumbled into dust. Since, 300 A.D the Romans had a lot of challenges that

1 http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=marshall&book=sketches&story=barbarians
2

January 19, 2016

Mr. OConnor
Haben Araya
CHW 3M1

needed to be overcome such as the constant fights with the Germanic Tribes. However by 300
A.D, the barbarians had reached the Romans borders and by 410 A.D the Visigoth King Alaric
after numerous tries successfully captured the city of Rome. 2 Under their young king Alaric,
the Visigoths attacked the empire again and again. Twice Alaric laid siege to Rome. Twice he
spared the imperial city. Still a third time he came, and this time he sacked and plundered it
without mercy.
Another reason for the collapse of Rome is the rise of the Byzantine Empire.3 Eastern
Roman Empire or Byzantium rose to existence by the foundation of the city Constantinople in
324 AD, and the final division to Eastern and Western Roman Empire didnt happen until 395
AD. It lasted until the year 1453 when Constantinople was conquered by the Turks. The fate of
Rome was already sealed in the third century; however the division of Eastern and Western
definitely made it easier to govern. The Eastern and Western Empire had trouble co-operating
with each other over issues such as resources and military aid. This led to the Eastern Empire
having more power and the Western Empire collapsing.
Lastly, an important reason that led to the collapse of Rome is the overexpansion and
military overspending. 4Once expansion ended, the Roman Empire controlled a vast swath of
Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. This immense territory cost a fortune to maintain and
control. Eventually, the empire could no longer afford infrastructure, defense, and administrative
2http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=marshall&book=sketches&story=barbarians
3 http://www.medievalwall.com/art-of-different-countries/rise-development-byzantine-empire/
4 http://www.examiner.com/article/overexpansion-and-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire
3

January 19, 2016

Mr. OConnor
Haben Araya
CHW 3M1

costs severely weakening administration and defense. At its height, the Roman Empire stretched
from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Euphrates River in the Middle East, but its grandeur
may have also been its downfall. With such a broad territory to govern, the empire faced an
administrative and logistical nightmare. Even with their road systems, the Romans were unable
to communicate quickly or effectively enough to manage their holdings. Rome struggled to
marshal enough troops and resources to defend its frontiers from local rebellions and outside
attacks and by the second century, Emperor Hadrian was forced to build his famous wall in
Britain just to keep the enemy at bay. As more and more funds were put into the military upkeep
of the empire, great technological advancement slowed and Romes civil structure fell into
disrepair.

January 19, 2016

Mr. OConnor
Haben Araya
CHW 3M1

References
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http://www.examiner.com/article/overexpansion-and-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?
author=marshall&book=sketches&story=barbarians

http://www.medievalwall.com/art-of-different-countries/rise-development byzantineempire/

www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman.../causes-for-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire

http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsEurope/GreeceByzantium.htm