...| The fall of the Roman Empire | How Christianity played a part in the decline of an Empire | | | | 8/1/2014 | Paper outline 1. Introduction 2. Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire 3. How Christianity played a part in the decline of the Roman Empire 4. The situation after the fall of the Roman Empire 5. The situation in the dark ages 6. Conclusion 7. Bibliography “Why did Rome fall?” still remains one the greatest questions of Western history. Many books have been written about this topic and many theories have been advanced about the reason of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Several reasons are issued for the fall. These reasons are issued to be sequacious and interwoven. For example, one of the most influential modern historians, Edward Gibbon wrote “The Decline and fall of the Roman Empire” in 1776, where he stated that the initiation of Christianity was one of the reasons for the decline. The transition of religions in the Roman Empire, from a polytheistic religion to a monotheistic religion, leads to instability within the Empire. (Gibbon, 1782) How Christianity was a factor in the decline of the Western Roman Empire will be discussed more extensively in this paper. In the beginning, Christianity was not more than an insignificant sect of Judaism and began its spread from Roman Judaea during the life of Jesus, but in only four centuries Christianity had become the state religion of the Roman Empire. The rise...
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...The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire Although the Roman Empire experienced many great accomplishments the decline led to many challenges. There were invasions by Barbarian tribes as well as economic troubles. Due to a final crisis, the empire began to crumble. Rome was being attacked by outside forces causing the constant spending. The empire became very dependent of their slaves to farm the land and work as craftsmen. The Roman empire is believed to have taken about a century until it finally failed in 476 A.D. So many negative contributions led to Rome’s Empire falling. Another cause of the fall of the roman empire involved the over-expansion and military overspending. The empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River. There was still not enough military to keep outside attackers away. So much money was put into the military that eventually the empire fell into a huge negative financial disparity. With the majority of the money available going into the upkeep of the military many citizens began to lose hope in the empire. The military then transformed and there was no real loyalty to the city of Rome. Christianity is believed to be another reason why the Roman Empire failed. There had been a vast majority of people converting to the Christian faith. Constantine produced The Edict of Milan. This legalized Christianity and allowed religious freedom within the empire. With the rise of Christianity, a large amount of money was put into...
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...RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE The invading army touched the boarders of Rome, which had been left totally undefended. In 410 C.E. (common area), the Visigoths, led by Alaric, breached the walls of Rome and ravaged the capital of the Roman Empire. The Visigoths looted, burned, vandalized, and pillaged their way through the city, leaving a trail of destruction wherever they went. The plundering continued for three days. For the first time in nearly a millennium, the city of Rome was in the hands of someone other than the Romans. This was the first time that the city of Rome was sacked, but by no means the last. Constantine and the Beginning of Christianity One of the many factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire was the rise of a new religion, Christianity. The Christian religion, which was monotheistic (to believe in one god), ran counter to the traditional Roman religion, which was polytheistic (many gods). At different times, the Romans persecuted the Christians because of their beliefs, which were popular with the poor. This 16th-century medal depicts Attila the Hun, one of the most vicious and aggressive invaders of all time. In 313 C.E., Roman emperor Constantine the Great ended all persecution and declared toleration for Christianity. Later that century, Christianity became the official religion of the Empire. This extreme change in policy spread this rather new religion to every corner of the Empire. By approving Christianity, the Roman state directly...
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...According to many history books found at school, the fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to one thing – the demise of the capitol of the Empire, carried out by the Visigoths from Germany. Roman soldiers were pulled back from a defense post in the Rhine-Danube frontier, where they held back the barbarians, to fight in Italy, leaving an open Roman border to attack. The Visigoths looted, burned, and ransacked their way through the entire capitol city, Rome, for three whole days. This was considered a major event back in its day because much of the western part of the Empire had already fallen, making Rome an exaggerated center for the existing parts of the Empire. In 476 A.D., the Germanic general Odacer inevitably overthrew Augustus and Romulus, the last of the Roman Emperors. Roads and bridges were left in disrepair, agriculture never picked back up, and pirates made travel very unsafe, officially signaling the total fall of the Roman Empire. Although most agree that this was the ultimate demise of the Empire, this was not the reason that the Empire became so weak, in order for it to be taken over so easily. Rome, considered, the ‘mighty city’ by many, could not have fallen so easily to barbarians without some external and internal conflicts, eventually weakening the whole Empire into both economic and physical decay....
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...territorial height in the first and second century CE, the Roman Empire may have contained between 45 million and 120 million people. The Roman military can be viewed as one of the greatest armies in world history. Historian Edward Gibbon estimated that "the size of the Roman army most probably formed a standing force of three hundred and seventy-five thousand men, at the Empire's territorial peak in the time of the Emperor Hadrian." The Roman population slowly decreased because many barbaric tribes settled along the borders of the Empire and began sacking cities and attacking villages. By the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman military began to decay into tons of problems. Many factors contributed to the military decline of the Roman Empire, including a lack of discipline, financial problems, and poor military tactics and decisions by the empire. In result of these factors, barbarians were able to attack the walls of the empire with more ease because of the lack of defense. These barbarian attacks helped prone the efficiency of the army's defenses and tactics which impart the major downfall of the empire. A change in military tactics during the third and fourth century CE was central in the decline of the Roman Army. This left commanders and soldiers confused, this resulted as well in casualties and loses in war. Because of a controversial change in tactics and weapons, the Romans were virtually useless against these barbaric tribes...
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...Oscar Villanueva Why the Roman Republic Decayed and Became the Roman Empire The rise and subsequent fall of the city of Rome was a significant historical event, characterized by the dramatic decline of the republic, to her transformation into an empire. Originally a small provincial town, Rome rose to prominence and produced astounding strengths, which was then lost when Rome became incapable of defending its governing structures of the republic. It is the purpose of this study to highlight these events, giving reasons that led to the decay of the Roman Republic, and the rise of the Roman Empire. The prominence of Rome Rome was a small province town which after many wars became the focus and command center of the vast empire of Rome. However, history tells us that it took hundreds of years and a combat of many wars to rise to this prominence. It gained influence over a significant portion of southern Europe, northern Africa, and Middle East. Rome conquered nearly all the surrounding territories going beyond the Mediterranean Sea. It was this military dominance in the region that helped the Roman republic rise and became a formidable force of influence. The republic had appeasing methods of keeping her citizens happy and content. In this endeavor, Rome respected and protected the people’s local cultures with the sole purpose of keeping the people pacified. The Romans in their quest for improved stability, offered a healthier way of life to...
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...Humanities 101-03 10-30-13 George Orwell’s 1984 In the book 1984 has a futuristic setting from when it was wrote. Oceania is the super state where Winston Smith lives; he is the main character of the novel. Outside the streets are covered in trash and buildings are run down. The whole place just looks like a war zone. You can hear bombs and gunshots going off when Winston is just standing in his apartment. Winston’s job is changing the newspaper to make the paper seem more appealing. The government is not like ours, it is like Joseph Stalin with his fascism regime. But instead of pictures of Joseph Stalin it is a picture that looks like a mixture between Stalin, Franco, and Hitler. The picture is all over the place on these telescreens. Not only is the picture of Big Brother on these screens everywhere even in every house, but also they can see you threw the screen and watch the population. The government even tries to dumb down or depress it’s people. They push alcohol and cigarettes to keep the people drunk and dumb. They do not want the people talking and try to over throw the government. The people in this super state all wear blue overalls to make them the same. Men and women are not aloud to have sex for fun only to reproduce, that’s it. Men call women sister and women call men brother. It is the most ridicules society ever imaginable, it is one hundred percent controlled by the government and helicopters and tanks come by to check on the people and make sure they know...
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...the most powerful empire Europe has ever seen- collapsed. The Roman Empire was very powerful, having borders as far North as Scotland, extending as far south into Northern Africa. Consisting of 2.3 million square miles, with a population of 80 million people. With each opportunity to conquer lands, the empire took it. Gaining power with each conquest, perhaps becoming too powerful. Correspondingly, the rise and fall of Rome began with it’s establishment, emperors, and actions. Moreover, the Roman Empire’s rise began with the establishment of Rome. Roman origins began during 1000-500 BCE, its earliest settlements on Palatine Hill. These settlements then turned into a republic, forming during 509-31 BCE. As a result of the Battle of Actium, the republic ended beginning the Roman Empire. Likewise, within the empire, there were two classes of people, the plebeians and patricians. Yet within these two classes of people order was needed. Laws, also known as the Twelve Tables, were written. Furthermore, along with a “new collection” of laws, the Roman empire gained control...
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...Edward Gibbon was born May 8 April 27, 1737, Putney, England he died January 16, 1794 in London. English rationalist historian and scholar best known as the author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–88). A narrative from the 2nd century to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Gibbon’s grandfather had made a considerable fortune and his father was able to live an easygoing life. He married Judith, a daughter of James Porten, whose family had originated in Germany. Edward, also had independent means throughout his life. Edward was the oldest and the only kid to live out of seven children the rest of his siblings died in infancy. Gibbon’s childhood was a series of illnesses. More than once in his life he almost died....
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...Over the years many historians have tried to pinpoint the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire. One of the earliest historians to open up discussion on this topic was Edward Gibbon, an English historian and Member of Parliament. He is most noted for his work The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He claims that various internal factors, such as economic decline and civil wars, as well as external factors, such as invaders and Christianity, caused the fall of the Roman Empire. Bruce Bartlett, another historian and supply-side economics expert who worked as the domestic policy advisor for President Reagan, expanded and supported Gibbon’s theories by claiming that inflation and debasement of the Roman currency along with corruption...
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...Western Roman Empire encompassed the western regions of the Roman Empire while the Eastern part was later renamed as the Byzantine Empire. It is noteworthy that the two were not separate as such, but rather had independent Imperial courts. Despite enjoying a period of growth, independence, and prosperity, the collective empire collapsed due to some reasons that include: military failures, natural disasters, and civil wars, among others. There are ranging debates that exist and un-conclusive arguments regarding the fall of the empire. However, the reasons for its fall are known with the two showing similarities and differences. The Western empire collapsed in the 5th century after about 500 years of its existence. Some historians argue that...
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...rebuild the Roman Empire in one day, nevertheless the real question is how could one of the most powerful ancient empires fall? Over the years, historians have attributed the fall of the Roman Empire to many different factors. I believe that immigration played the biggest role in the fall of the Roman Empire...
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...The Roman Empire was one of the greatest empires in the world, but its fall was inevitable. During the Roman Empire’s first two centuries, there was peace and prosperity. The Roman army conquered territory from modern-day Spain to Scotland. But, as the Roman empire would soon find out, size has its disadvantages. The main cause for the fall of the Roman Empire was political instability, which led to military mistakes and economic and civil decay. Diseases and natural disasters were also causes of the fall of Rome. To begin with, military mistakes were a substantial part in the fall of the Roman empire. For one thing, according to Document B, after the year 400 CE, Roman soldiers abandoned parade ground drills and became weak and lazy. Because of this, they abandoned breastplates and helmets, and fought unprotected. So when the soldiers fought the Goths, they were easily defeated by archers. In addition, as stated in Document B, regular conscription was not enforced. Many categories were exempted,...
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...The Fall of the Roman Empire Corey Aiken History of Western Civilization 201- D03 16 April 2013 The fall of the Roman Empire cannot be attributed to one single event. This process took several hundred years, and only resulted in the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern half-wealthier, more populous, less afflicted with civil wars, and less exposed to barbarian invasions- survived as the Byzantine Empire until the middle of the fifteenth century (Perry, Chase, Jacob, Jacob, Von Laue, 2009). There are several reasons for the decline of Western Rome such as: the role of the Germanic tribes, along with political, military and spiritual considerations and economic conditions. One reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire is the role of the Germanic Tribes. It is interesting to note that, “the importing of tribal peoples into the Roman Empire was a permanent imperial policy which expanded in scale over the centuries (Williams, Friell 1994). There were many critics and supporters of this risky policy. The Roman aim was to encourage small, friendly client chieftainships who would both respect the Roman frontiers and protect them against other tribal threats, often in return for Roman help against their tribal enemies (Williams, Friell 1994). The Romans understood that these tribal people were instinctively people of war, and would undoubtedly end up fighting one another. Therefore the Romans decided to let them do so for the benefit of the empire, and began to...
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... The rise to power of the Papacy in the Roman Empire during the 6-9th centuries is crucial to the history of the church. There were many theories as to why the Papacy earned such central power. Included in these were the rise of the early church, and also the negative and positive effects of individuals related tot he government of the Roman Empire. Altogether it took many steps in a long process for the Papacy to gain such control. What is clear though is that the Papacy held firm control until the reformation. This paper will expand on the reasons for the rise of the Papacy in power, what allowed for it to thrive, and also negative and positive impacts on the empire and even the world. Fall of the Roman Empire There were many factors, and theories that are included when one is speaking of the fall of the Roman Empire. One of the first theories centers around disease and plagues. Some historians maintain that the Empire was crippled, as many diseases and plagues circled the Empire. They crippled families, workers and even members who were involved with the government. Another small factor may have been the decay of the army. The army say an increase in more German peoples, which may have altered the morale of the army, and even the size of the army itself. One large theory also centers around the government of the Empire. Many historians also believe that the Roman Empire set itself up for failure.(1) In the way that the government was structured...
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