Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire

[CG6468]

Wherever it says "Roman", substitute "American".

Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire

The content of this article provides interesting history, facts and information about the Reason why the Roman Empire fell. The Roman Empire is the term used to refer the period in Ancient Roman history and civilisation when when Rome and its territories were ruled by autocratic Emperors.


Multiple Causes over 500 years

The Roman Empire lasted from 27 BC - 476 AD, a period exceeding 500 years. At its most powerful the territories of the Roman Empire included lands in West and South Europe (the lands around the Mediterranean), Britain, Asia Minor, North Africa including Egypt.  The Decline of the Roman Empire was due to many reasons but the major causes of the decline are detailed below. There was no specific order of the causes for the fall of the Roman Empire. Different causes occurred over its time period of over five hundred years.

...

Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Failing Economy and High Inflation
One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Failing Economy and high inflation. The Government was constantly threatened by bankruptcy due to the cost of defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy taxation and high inflation was another Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire. The majority of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire failed to share in the incredible prosperity of Rome. The amount of gold sent to the orient to pay for luxury goods led to a shortage of gold to make Roman coins. 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.

Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire - Unemployment of the Working Classes
One of the main causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire was the Unemployment of the Working Classes. Cheap slave labor resulted in the unemployment of the Plebs in Rome who became dependent on hand-outs from the state. The Romans attempted a policy of unrestricted trade but this led to the Plebs being unable to compete with foreign trade. The government were therefore forced to subsidize the working class Romans to make up the differences in prices. This resulted in thousands of Romans choosing just to live on the subsides sacrificing their standard of living with an idle life of ease. The massive divide between the rich Romans and the poor Romans increased still further.

This is our nation, now

[obumazombie]

High taxes helped speed the demise of the Roman Empire.

[Zathras]

Let me add another thing that was happening in Imperial Rome that is happening today. You've all heard of the term "Bread & Circuses"? Roman senators would put on elaborate gladiatorial and chariot racing events with cheap food for the masses with the purpose of buying their support. Well we have that going on today, with Obama providing the Bread (Obamacare, Obamaphones & food stamps for all) and the entertainment industries providing the Circuses (American Idol and other shows like it). There is one difference between the two however....the Roman Senators at least had the decency to use their own money to put on their shows.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Being run by Italians had a lot to do with it.

[FlaGator]

The empire also became fragmented as the society lost it homogeneous make up and began breaking in to factions as parts of society started maintaining their ethnic practices instead of being absorbed by the Roman culture. As citizens reduced their participation in the military the ranks of the soldiers were made up of foreign mercenaires who had no loyalty to the Roman empire. They were there mainly to earn a play check.

There also seems to be a large scale decline in the society's morals and ethics. Crime become much more common place, the sports and entertainment became more violent and society largely became apathetic towards what was being done by the government. There were many, many issues which brought about the collapse of the Roman Empire and the scariest thing is we are seeing them in our culture right now.

[Dori]

Very good.  You guys need to send those to all our Congressmen.

[Ptarmigan]

So many similarities between Roman Empire and America.

[CG6468]

So many similarities between Roman Empire and America.

It is amazing, isn't it?

[Ptarmigan]

It is amazing, isn't it?

Yes, scary. Roman Empire died a slow death. The parallels I see are:
-A more decadent society
-Military stretched thin
-People more obsessed with entertainment
-Economy weak
-Lack of innovation

[Crazy Horse]

And here I thought it was a Marine Expeditionary force that did.

[JohnnyReb]

Copied from..........

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5451872.Alexander_Fraser_Tytler


“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
― Alexander Fraser Tytler

....and the democrat voters have been voting themselves largresse from the public treasury for the past 50 years. Obama has expanded that group to the point of a majority now.....we are doomed.







www.google.com

[obumazombie]

I'm Spartacus...

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u93bhAimFFU[/youtube]


And I was the start of the fall of the Roman Empire !