Theories on How the Roman Empire Fell
Public Health
A Roman apartment building.
Public Health: Cause
Many of the citizens of the Roman Empire were poor or unemployed and living on the streets and were constantly in contact with hundreds of diseases. There was also continuous interactions in the centers of cities in the Roman Empire where trading, entertainment, and public baths were taking place. The all around consumption of alcohol in the empire rose drastically, and in many parties that the wealthy would throw the people would often drink till they became sick. Those who were wealthy in the empire often brought water into their homes though the use of lead pipes, causing many citizens to get lead poisoning. Many of the citizens who were poor, but not homeless would often live in overcrowded, hot, and dirty apartments, and were often encountered with more diseases living in the apartment than they would living on the street.
Public Health: Effect
Because of all these public heath problems disease and sickness could spread everywhere throughout the Roman Empire. Even to those who were wealthy had a high death rate among the empire due to lead poisoning and alcohol abuse.
Many of the citizens of the Roman Empire were poor or unemployed and living on the streets and were constantly in contact with hundreds of diseases. There was also continuous interactions in the centers of cities in the Roman Empire where trading, entertainment, and public baths were taking place. The all around consumption of alcohol in the empire rose drastically, and in many parties that the wealthy would throw the people would often drink till they became sick. Those who were wealthy in the empire often brought water into their homes though the use of lead pipes, causing many citizens to get lead poisoning. Many of the citizens who were poor, but not homeless would often live in overcrowded, hot, and dirty apartments, and were often encountered with more diseases living in the apartment than they would living on the street.
Public Health: Effect
Because of all these public heath problems disease and sickness could spread everywhere throughout the Roman Empire. Even to those who were wealthy had a high death rate among the empire due to lead poisoning and alcohol abuse.
Political Corruption
All the Roman Emperors on their coins.
Political Corruption: Cause
Transition to appoint a new emperor of the Roman Empire was never easy and there was never any established system for it. The choice for a new emperor was often only decided between the old emperor, the senate, and Praetorian Guard ( the emperors private army). Then later on the Praetorian Guard gained all the authority to choose the new emperor. In 186 A.D the army had strangled the new emperor thus leading to giving the title of emperor to the highest bidder.
Political Corruption: Effect
Over the next 100 years after 186 A.D the empire had 37 different emperors, 25 of which were assassinated. Many of the emperors were corrupt with power and wanted to become emperor for their own personal gain. This caused the Roman people to distrust the government, thus further weakening the empire.
Transition to appoint a new emperor of the Roman Empire was never easy and there was never any established system for it. The choice for a new emperor was often only decided between the old emperor, the senate, and Praetorian Guard ( the emperors private army). Then later on the Praetorian Guard gained all the authority to choose the new emperor. In 186 A.D the army had strangled the new emperor thus leading to giving the title of emperor to the highest bidder.
Political Corruption: Effect
Over the next 100 years after 186 A.D the empire had 37 different emperors, 25 of which were assassinated. Many of the emperors were corrupt with power and wanted to become emperor for their own personal gain. This caused the Roman people to distrust the government, thus further weakening the empire.
Reckless Spending
Some Roman coins.
Reckless Spending: Cause
After the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius the prices of almost everything in the Roman Empire rose. Once the empire stopped trying to conquer new lands, the flow o gold to the empire slowed, nevertheless Roman citizens continued to spend recklessly on luxury items. then merchants began raising the price of food as well. It is also known that some of the emperors of the Roman Empire spent their money recklessly on things such as prostitutes an lavish parties. The military spending also increased dramatically due to the empire having to constantly defend its borders from foreigners. The Romans lost their desire to defend the empire, and the empire began recruiting unemployed citizens from the city mobs or even foreigners into the military.
Reckless Spending: Effect
The Roman coin gradually became less and less valuable, and the Roman economy eventually broke down. Many people stopped using coins as currency and used food and clothing as currency instead, and taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables. Military spending left little money left for the citizens of Rome due to the fact that the army was extreamly unreliable and therefore very expensive. The emperor then had to raise the taxes again to keep the military going so unemployment rose even more.
After the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius the prices of almost everything in the Roman Empire rose. Once the empire stopped trying to conquer new lands, the flow o gold to the empire slowed, nevertheless Roman citizens continued to spend recklessly on luxury items. then merchants began raising the price of food as well. It is also known that some of the emperors of the Roman Empire spent their money recklessly on things such as prostitutes an lavish parties. The military spending also increased dramatically due to the empire having to constantly defend its borders from foreigners. The Romans lost their desire to defend the empire, and the empire began recruiting unemployed citizens from the city mobs or even foreigners into the military.
Reckless Spending: Effect
The Roman coin gradually became less and less valuable, and the Roman economy eventually broke down. Many people stopped using coins as currency and used food and clothing as currency instead, and taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables. Military spending left little money left for the citizens of Rome due to the fact that the army was extreamly unreliable and therefore very expensive. The emperor then had to raise the taxes again to keep the military going so unemployment rose even more.
Urban Decay
A model of the city of Rome.
Urban Decay: Cause
Anyone who could not pay the rent to live in one of the city apartments was pushed out into the streets, which created more homelessness in the empire. Disease and sickness spread though the Roman Empire in the poor public health conditions. Many farmers were becoming unemployed and joined the homeless on the streets. The crime rate increased in the empire as the homelessness increased. Everything was so expensive for everyone in the empire at the time, that the emperor had to import grain to feed over a 100,000 people.
Urban Decay: Effect
As the empire became weaker and weaker foreign invaders came from the surrounding countries and destroyed the empire completely. The Roman Empire could not fight back any longer.
Anyone who could not pay the rent to live in one of the city apartments was pushed out into the streets, which created more homelessness in the empire. Disease and sickness spread though the Roman Empire in the poor public health conditions. Many farmers were becoming unemployed and joined the homeless on the streets. The crime rate increased in the empire as the homelessness increased. Everything was so expensive for everyone in the empire at the time, that the emperor had to import grain to feed over a 100,000 people.
Urban Decay: Effect
As the empire became weaker and weaker foreign invaders came from the surrounding countries and destroyed the empire completely. The Roman Empire could not fight back any longer.