...Falling of an Empire Roberto Hernandez History 107 6980 Classical Foundations Professor Pennington October 8, 2014 Introduction Thesis: The striking historical similarities between the Western Roman Empire and the United States of America are undeniable and can ultimately lead to the falling of the United States Empire. Section A: Dominant Superpower • Territories • Contributions to Civilization • Military Presence Section B: Similarities in Government • Laws • Republic • Senate Section C: Cultural and Economical Similarities • Entertainment • Welfare • Unemployment The Falling of an Empire The Roman Empire and its reign lasted for almost a thousand years (ca. 500 B.C.E.- 500 C.E.), with the largest agglomeration of land c.a. 120 C.E. (2.2Million sq. miles). Many have discussed what the reasons may have been for the Roman collapse in 476 C.E. Was the collapse due to barbarians, greed, corruption or the lack of moral values by the people and politicians? Maybe an overextended military in foreign land? Could it have been fiscal irresponsibility by their government that may have lead to the Roman Empires demise? Could it be all the above? Isaac Newton once said, “ what goes up must come down,” even largest superpower, Britain, that has ruled the most territory in history over a century ago, is no more. Both the Roman Empire and the United...
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...Roman Empire The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Population: 56.8 million (25 BC) Capitals: Rome, Constantinople, Ravenna Area: 1.062 million sq miles Founded: 27 BC Continent: Europe Government: Autocracy, Stratocracy The Founding of Rome The Founding of Rome is very much embroiled in myth. Traces found by archaeologists of early settlements of the Palatine Hill date back to ca 750 BC. This ties in very closely to the established legend that Rome was founded on 21 April 753 BC, which was traditionally celebrated in Rome with the festival of Parilia. Two founding legends exist - Romulus and Remus and Aeneas. Rather than contradict each other, the tale of Aeneas adds to that of Romulus and Remus. King Numitor of Alba Longa was ejected by his younger brother Amulius. To do away with any further possible pretenders to his usurped throne, Amulius murdered Numitor's sons and forced Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a vestal virgin. However Mars, the god of war became enchanted by her beauty and had his way with Rhea Silvia while she slept. As a result of this Rhea Silvia bore twins, Romulus and Remus. An enraged Amulius had Rhea Silvia thrown into the river Tiber where she was caught beneath the waves by the river god who married her. The twins were set adrift...
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...The Roman Empire The Roman Empire was one of the strongest empires in all of mankind. The Roman Empire has such a rich history and shows how power and strategic tactics can run an empire efficiently. The Roman Empire was characterized by an autocratic form of government which meant the top leaders made all the important decisions. They had a large territorial area around the Mediterranean which went into present day Europe, Africa, and Asia. Rome history starts at the time it was know as Rome Republic and was ran by royal Rome. There Imperium was in command and are represented by consuls and the senate and assembly. Rome in their Republic they started their conquest as they fought Carthage in three Punic Wars. Carthage main advantage was their navy and Hannibal was leading Carthage to victory over Rome and take over. But Rome had its own power in Scipio Africanus and he ended Hannibals victory run and they were able to hold Carthage back and became the the power of the west with a great strategic army. The fall of the Republic started with Julius Caesar he mid wife of the Roman Empire and was more of a dictator figure. Julius Caesar was part of the first triumvirate of the new Roman Empire. He was ulitmately betrayed at the end of his term. Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, would take over after Caesars untimely end. He lead Rome to its second triumvirate and was the first empire of Rome. After Emperor Augustus took over and was a very low profile ruler and...
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...Walker1 Joseph Walker Professor. Vonya Lewis HIST 1111 25 September 2015 Roman Empire The Roman Empire was a strong hold over the Mediterranean for many years. Being the place of most all world leaders, the Romans wanted land along with their power. They set their eyes on the valuable lands around them and the Mediterranean world as well as parts of Northern Europe and Asia. The Roman civilization and culture was much influenced by the Phonetians and Greeks. Later, the Romans were in control of these lands and their people. Three of their prize provinces held at much value to them were Thrace, Macedonia, and Greece. These three lands were all located in the same area, providing a throughway to Rome for trade routes from China and the Middle East. Thrace, being on the south western coast of the Black Sea made it easy for the Romans to sail farther inland to what is today Russia. Greece was located on the Aegean Sea and Macedonia was to the north of it being all three provinces together. Before Romans conquered Greece, there was a great civilization in itself that has influenced much of the Western culture of today. The Greeks were people that believe in beauty and the good of life. They people had a well-developed government system, religion, architectural advances, literature, and beautiful art. Many scholars and philosophers had begun to discover the longtime mysteries of the world. The Greeks had a system of writing and were very well educated. They were eventually taken...
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...Greek and Roman financiers: from the 4th century BC Banking activities in Greece are more varied and sophisticated than in any previous society. Private entrepreneurs, as well as temples and public bodies, now undertake financial transactions. They take deposits, make loans, change money from one currency to another and test coins for weight and purity. They even engage in book transactions. Moneylenders can be found who will accept payment in one Greek city and arrange for credit in another, avoiding the need for the customer to transport or transfer large numbers of coins. Rome, with its genius for administration, adopts and regularizes the banking practices of Greece. By the 2nd century AD a debt can officially be discharged by paying the appropriate sum into a bank, and public notaries are appointed to register such transactions. The collapse of trade after the fall of the Roman empire makes bankers less necessary than before, and their demise is hastened by the hostility of the Christian church to the charging of interest. Usury comes to seem morally offensive. One anonymous medieval author declares vividly that 'a usurer is a bawd to his own money bags, taking a fee that they may engender together'. Rome The Roman Empire inherited the spirit of capitalism from Greece (Parker).During the time of the Empire, public deposits gradually ceased to be held in temples, and instead were held in private depositories. The earliest recorded evidence showing banking...
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...The Byzantine Empire was the successor of the Roman Empire; also known as the eastern Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 410 C.E, Constantine I had created the new capital of the Byzantine Empire named Constantinople in 330. During its existence the empire was composed of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. The empire was using the roman political tradition, Hellenic culture and Christianity as religion. The common language used in the empire was Greek. The byzantine empire was very influencal in Asia specially in russia because The Rus Kiev ‘began as a group of Scandinavian merchants who traveled south through Byzantine through Russian territory. The prosperous trade and luxury goods of Constantinople (and of...
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...Aleksander Kycyku History 101 Exam 1 Essay 2 Tu-Th 10:00 am How was the Eastern Roman Empire able to outlast the Western Roman Empire, which collapsed in 476 CE? There are numerous reason that explain the survival of the Eastern Roman Empire. Firstly, Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Empire, was located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. This meant that trade going in both directions passed through the city, so the Eastern Empire always had plenty of money. Secondly, founded by Constantine, the city was intended to be Christian from the start and throughout most of its history it was ruled and populated by dedicated Christians who acted in a relatively directed and coordinated way. Not only the city of Constantinople, but he whole Empire of the east had a number of large and wealthy cities around it. It was not as widespread as the Western Empire which making the defense of its borders easier. Rome, on the other hand, was a fractured society and unstable society. There were plebs, patricians, federates , slaves, refugees, Christians, pagans and all kinds of other factions constantly quarreling and fighting without leadership or consensus. At some point, they even ended up making Ravenna, a small fortress, its capital. That signalizes the fall of Rome. Finally, the Eastern empire maintained a powerful war fleet, as an outcome of the military reforms that were carried out in the early 5th century which made it...
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...The Roman Empire held more than twenty-five nations of the modern world. Rome at its peak held territories from Britain in the north to the Nile River and into the Mediterranean. Rome was a truly multicultural society. Throughout time, Rome increased its reign and power by seizing land and riches through multiple wars and force. However, the Roman Empire continued to allow for the practice of religious freedoms and the worship of multiple gods. The success of Rome was due to its strong policies and religious beliefs that prosperity came from the worship of their gods. They treated the captured nations as allies and encouraged them to take part of their community and rituals. The captured nations were given a share of their wealth and integrated...
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...of the Roman Empire If you asked someone to name one of the greatest empires of all time, the Roman Empire would surely come up. It is very well known for how great of an empire that it was with its excellent soldiers, brilliant architecture, and expansive road system. Not many people today know that the Roman Empire was not always an empire, there was a time where the power of the nation wasn't held by a single person. Rome was once a Republic, a place where supreme authority is held by the people and the representatives that they elect. The birth of this great empire rooted from tons of wars. Not only did they fight to earn their own territory in beginning against the Etruscans but they also fought the nation of Carthage for more territory which ultimately caused the birth of the Roman Empire. The history of Rome and the true founding of the nation is less dramatic than the actual story. Rather than the founding of Rome including the god of war and Romulus and Remus, the true story involved three tribes ("Rome, History of"). Around 1,000 B.C.E., in west-central Italy, a village was built in Latium by three tribes. Protected by hills from the sea, the city was in a great location for not only defense but also trading on major routes. The Romans were first ruled by the Etruscans, who were the people from the nation of Etruria. They adopted the Greek language, which was forced upon the Romans and they also put Rome into a Mediterranean commercial network. The Romans lived...
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...Catholic Church to thrive after the decline of the Roman Empire Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Institution: Introduction The decline of the Roman Empire was a significant feat in the history of the world especially in Europe. This is because virtually all of them were under its rule. Moreover, the Empire’s fall was attributed to a variety of factors and consequences that are lessons to the present world. Nevertheless, some core components existent at the rule of the Roman Empire withstood the test of time. Most of them have since diminished gradually with the exception of the Catholic Church. As such, a number of factors are attributed to its resilience in reference to the Empire’s fall. Thus, it is in consideration of the above that this term paper seeks to present some of the factors that supported the Catholic Church to thrive after the decline of the Roman Empire. Hence; they are presented in a deblockedive manner with much correlation to the history of the Medieval Ages. To begin with was the spread of Christianity as a dominant religion at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire. Irrefutably, this religion had taken grip of...
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...Greek and the Roman Empire Name Professor Institution Course Date Both Roman and Greek Empires existed as early as fifth century B.C. extending their rule up to 10 century A.D and they’ve left mark to civilization of the modern world from their cultural, economic and political practices. History of ancient Greek spanned many centuries from 1600 B.C to 146 B.C with unfolding world around neighbors like Turkey in the East, Syria and a more civilized Egypt in the south (Williams, 2005). They laid foundations of life during this period: the institution of slavery, which spurred the growth of a leisure class; the emergence of city-states; the establishment of laws; and the development of various types of polity all contributed to both the creative culture and the political tensions that characterized Greece during later eras (Kirkuk, 1996). Earliest developers of the Greece Empire settled in the large Crete Island around 2000 B.C. They remained in separate states distributed across the Greece islands. Roman Empire was founded during the rule of Augustus Ceaser in April 21, 753 B.C. (Burgan, 2009). They heavily relied on myths and legends to explain their history and ancestral origin. The city of Rome was built on the hills near Tiber River which gave them a good view of their countryside and also be able to defend it against any enemy attacks. They had built boats and canoes allowing access...
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...What Makes a Society Great – The Roman Empire as Example It is important to study the characteristics of a great society. Throughout history, there have been many societies that were great and many that were failures. In order to advance mankind and countries today, lessons can be learned from the past. There are many characteristics that are present in great societies. However, some of these qualities are more important than others. The three main characteristics that make a society great are a high quality of life, economic prosperity, and democracy. This essay explains why these three characteristics can make a society great and illustrates these qualities using the example of the Roman Empire. Quality of Life and Basic Needs It is extremely important for a society to meet the essential needs of all citizens and to provide a good quality of life. According to Randy Schutt in Inciting Democracy, in a good society, every person would have their basic human needs met (14). Basic human needs include: air, water, food, clothing, shelter, and safety from harm. A good quality of life includes meeting all basic human needs and also involves living an enjoyable life. According to Panos Mourdoukoutas and Abraham Stefanidis, “quality of life allows people to enjoy their wealth, advancing their personal and public lives.” Roman Empire Example For citizens in the Roman Empire, the quality of life was high and all basic human needs were met. Rome offered various entertainments for...
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...At the time, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power. The Roman Empire was ruthless, didn’t let anyone escape, and the Romans were never scared. They were the best equipped army in the world and had one of the greatest empires at the time. The Roman Empire followed the phrase, “Conquer or be conquered”. Therefore, the Roman Empire conquered their enemies and neighbors, so they would not be conquered. To do this, they had to win battles. To win battles, the Roman army had to invent the best weapons and strategies if they did not want to be conquered. Roman battle strategies and weapons affected the growth of the Empire by winning wars, expanding the Empire, and amassing a great amount of wealth for the Empire. Roman battle strategies and weapons affected the growth of the Empire by winning wars. Rome had some of the most advanced weapons in their time, and they were the most equipped army. (“RMT&T”). For example, the pilum, or throwing spear, was a very advanced of their time. There is a weight on the tip, and can impale through enemies and their shields with ease. The tip of the spear bends after use, so it would...
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...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 of...
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...History of Roman Empire Name Institution Many have credited Augustus Caesar as the first real great emperor of Rome. Modern historians know him as a historical figure made one of the most significant impacts in the ancient world. He became a Caesar after the Assassination of Julius Caesar (Buchan, 1937, p.18). Many people know Augustus Caesar for his effort and achievement of uniting the Roman Empire that became for over one hundred years. There has been a mixed reaction among many scholars concerning the life and rulership of Augustus. Some have viewed his achievements favorable while the other party sees him as a failure. Both facts are worth looking. It is true that while ruling Augustus achieved a lot but also had failures accompanying his reign. Augustus is Roman born in the year 63 B.C. His name was Gaius Octavius. His family was a very influential family. His father was the governor of Macedonia before he died in the year 58 BC. His Mother Caesonia was niece to the greatest general of Rome Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar took Augustus and adopted him as his son in the year 46 B.C. making him his heir. Augustus took over power from his father in the year 27 BC after his dad died of poisoning (Grant, 1978, p.32). While he was an emperor, he expanded Rome borders and took interest in civic and cultural affairs. Augustus slept in the year 14 A.D. and his son Tiberius replaced him. While still...
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